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" in the sentence, while maintaining both its denotative and connotative meanings, is playful.

"Playful" conveys a sense of light-heartedness and fun, much like "whimsical," while the other options do not capture the same nuance of joy and lightness implied by "whimsical."