spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ə-təd 
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
spiritedness
noun
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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
The melodramatic Bea often takes potshots at spirited newcomer Ndidi (the deft Aisha Sougou) over coveted customers in some of the play’s funniest moments.
—
Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
The show's 2024 Halloween edition comes after last year's spirited broadcast, which featured 50 costume changes, from a scene inspired by Ghost to a hybrid of The Golden Bachelor and The White Lotus.
—EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
The former player and spirited coach guided Minnesota to multiple playoff appearances but was fired last year during a lengthy losing streak.
—Kyle Stokes, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024
Wonder took a brief break as his stellar backing group put a spirited spin on everything from Aretha Franklin to Carole King, with Wonder returning to the stage following a costume change.
—Jim Ryan, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spirited 
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Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
The show's 2024 Halloween edition comes after last year's spirited broadcast, which featured 50 costume changes, from a scene inspired by Ghost to a hybrid of The Golden Bachelor and The White Lotus.
—EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
The former player and spirited coach guided Minnesota to multiple playoff appearances but was fired last year during a lengthy losing streak.
—Kyle Stokes, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024
Wonder took a brief break as his stellar backing group put a spirited spin on everything from Aretha Franklin to Carole King, with Wonder returning to the stage following a costume change.
—Jim Ryan, Forbes, 4 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 22 Nov. 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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