pert

pert

adj \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

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Rhymes with PERT

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