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

unusual
unusual

curious
curious

playful
playful

unpredictable
unpredictable

Answer 1

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

"Playful" captures the lighthearted and whimsical quality of Woody's smile, suggesting a sense of fun and joy, similar to the original word.