Read this sentence from Farewell to Manzanar, in which the authors describe Woody's smile.

Question

Offstage it was whimsical, as if some joke were bursting to be told.

Which word could best replace the word whimsical in this sentence and maintain both its denotative and connotative meanings?

Responses

curious
curious

unpredictable
unpredictable

playful
playful

unusual

Answer 1

The best word to replace "whimsical" while maintaining both its denotative and connotative meanings is playful.

"Playful" carries a similar sense of lightheartedness and a sense of fun, which aligns well with the connotations of "whimsical." While the other options convey different nuances, "playful" captures the essence of a light, joyful, and possibly mischievous spirit implied in the original sentence.