pert

pert

adjective \ˈpərt\

Definition of PERT

1

a : saucily free and forward : flippantly cocky and assured

b : being trim and chic : jaunty <a pert little hat>

c : piquantly stimulating <is a pert notion>

2

: lively, vivacious

— pert·ly adverb

— pert·ness noun

Examples of PERT

1. <a pert girl who is a member of the cheerleading squad>
2. <a pert retort that irritated the teacher>

Origin of PERT

Middle English, evident, attractive, saucy, short for apert evident, from Anglo-French, from Latin apertus open, from past participle of aperire to open

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PERT

Synonyms

active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, mettlesome, peppy, perky, lively, pizzazzy (or pizazzy), racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy

Antonyms

dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid

Related Words

dapper, dashing, spiffy; agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake; agile, nimble, spry; bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, chirrupy, effervescent, sparkly, upbeat; eager, enthusiastic, keen; frolicsome, impish, pixieish, playful; boisterous, bubbly, ebullient, exuberant, high-spirited; high-strung, nervous, skittish

Near Antonyms

indolent, lazy, unambitious; inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary; apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid; boring, dull, irksome, tedious

Rhymes with PERT

blurt, chert, curt, dirt, flirt, girt, hurt, quirt, shirt, skirt, spurt, squirt, sturt, vert, wort