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".
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
And yet few declared her the front-runner, perhaps because the spirited newcomer was nominated against four industry veterans (Jane Fonda, Sissy Spacek, Kathleen Turner, and Sigourney Weaver).
—
Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
The concert will open with the lively Polonaise from Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a spirited and elegant piece full of Russian grandeur.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
In a spirited panel discussion at Mip London, leading production executives shared insights on how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming content creation while highlighting opportunities for independent producers to gain competitive advantages over traditional studios.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025
Also key is another relationship, as Zellweger brings Southern verve and a bit of eccentricity to a spirited farmer who strikes up a close bond with Kidman's character.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
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Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
The concert will open with the lively Polonaise from Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a spirited and elegant piece full of Russian grandeur.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
In a spirited panel discussion at Mip London, leading production executives shared insights on how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming content creation while highlighting opportunities for independent producers to gain competitive advantages over traditional studios.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025
Also key is another relationship, as Zellweger brings Southern verve and a bit of eccentricity to a spirited farmer who strikes up a close bond with Kidman's character.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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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