sprightly 1 of 2

sprightly

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sprightly contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sprightly are animated, gay, lively, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

When might animated be a better fit than sprightly?

In some situations, the words animated and sprightly are roughly equivalent. However, animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

When is it sensible to use gay instead of sprightly?

The meanings of gay and sprightly largely overlap; however, gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Where would lively be a reasonable alternative to sprightly?

While the synonyms lively and sprightly are close in meaning, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

When is vivacious a more appropriate choice than sprightly?

Although the words vivacious and sprightly have much in common, vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sprightly
Adjective
Through a melodic flow of political parlance and an impressive stable of sprightly actors, creator Debora Cahn stages a spirited play about political relationships — and relationship politics — that never feels stodgy or stupefying, despite an ungodly amount of dialogue. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024 It’s filled with colorful side characters, like the sprightly Pinky, whose zest for life has not been tempered by her own past tragedies. Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024 Eco does its best to up efficiency; Normal is set up to give sprightly performance without draining the battery; Sport gives sharper performance and turns the instruments red; and Snow is designed to keep the car in check when the white stuff falls. Alex Goy, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2023 Io was the most volcanic object circling the sun; Europa’s sprightly terrain suggested something akin to plate tectonics had resurfaced the moon’s frozen face and shuffled material from the surface to the depths. Nadia Drake, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for sprightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprightly
Adjective
  • Riverdale In Riverdale, outside Village Hall, there was a lively scene Tuesday afternoon as members of Michael Airhart’s mayoral campaign were ordered to remove their campaign signs from a median.
    Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Around the room’s standing tables and plush, blush-pink lounge seats, friends, castmates, and both new and familiar faces engaged in lively conversation.
    Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The collection includes portraits of McCartney’s bandmates—John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—as well as evocative self-portraits and energetic scenes captured through car windows as the band navigated the chaos of their newfound fame.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the longer, bigger flares may occur due to magnetic reconnection events, or when two different magnetic fields collide near the black hole and release energetic particles moving near the speed of light.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Oscar nominee walked the runway with dramatic, out-to-there lashes that would feel right at home on an animated heroine or villain.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 21 Feb. 2025
  • For both the animated and live-action cinematic work, the storyboards can help the film team understand how to shoot the scenes, anticipate possible difficulties, and facilitate the actors in understanding their characters and the special settings.
    PhotoVogue, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The office campus attracted potential buyers at a brisk pace, according to Newmark brokers.
    George Avalos, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
  • Remarkably, in a brisk 90-minute play, DeLappe finds ways for every girl to be seen and for each one to be in conflict with at least one teammate, though the goalkeeper #00’s most intense conflict is with her own performance anxiety.
    Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • As well as being the most active stratovolcano in the world, Mount Etna is also Europe’s highest volcano, at about 3,350 meters (almost 11,000 feet) tall.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
  • There are 11 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR/STTR programs, each with its own grant opportunities, operational priorities and funding budgets - the most active being the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Science Foundation.
    Shimite Obialo, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Your business should excite your customers, frustrate your competitors and animate and motivate your people.
    Jeffrey Russell, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Photo : Paul Barnaby Robert Longo photographs animate the entry foyer.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprightly. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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