spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ə-təd 
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
spiritedness
noun
Did you know?
You may see spirited used to describe a conversation, a debate, a horse, or a campaign. And it often shows up in such words as high-spirited ("bold and energetic"), mean-spirited ("spiteful"), and public-spirited ("generous to a community"), all of which reflect the original meaning of spirit, a notion much like "soul" or "personality".
Synonyms
Examples of spirited in a Sentence
The team put up a spirited defense.
She's a very spirited young lady.
Recent Examples on the Web
Miraculously, this revival exudes freshness, from Grey Henson’s spirited performance as a wide-eyed Buddy to Liam Steel’s playful choreography, which turns tinsel into jump ropes.
—
The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024
Even so, the spirited new Netflix thriller from Joe Barton (The Lazarus Project) is a remarkably fresh, exciting, and laugh-out-loud funny caper, driven by a sharp comedic sensibility and wildly entertaining performances from stars Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 28 Nov. 2024
The approximately 36,000 hp of combined output from Molsheim is waiting to enter the circuit for a couple of spirited laps only moments after the final qualifying session of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2024
From handcrafted gifts to delicious treats and live music, these local markets offer a spirited shopping experience.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spirited 
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The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024
Even so, the spirited new Netflix thriller from Joe Barton (The Lazarus Project) is a remarkably fresh, exciting, and laugh-out-loud funny caper, driven by a sharp comedic sensibility and wildly entertaining performances from stars Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 28 Nov. 2024
The approximately 36,000 hp of combined output from Molsheim is waiting to enter the circuit for a couple of spirited laps only moments after the final qualifying session of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2024
From handcrafted gifts to delicious treats and live music, these local markets offer a spirited shopping experience.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spirited
Dictionary Entries Near spirited
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ət-əd
: full of courage or energy
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
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