spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ə-təd 
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
spiritedness
noun
Did you know?
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
Jackson Merrill and Gavin Sheets are Pivetta’s most frequent opponents in these spirited games.
—
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
Each table, each stool, each spirited exchange between barkeep and guest becomes part of a collective verse.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025
In each, the combination of spirited movement (by Barnes) and gently confessional text (by Saenz de Viteri) in an uncommon, often rarefied, space reliably produced an unforgettable experience that somehow managed to be both deeply insightful and simply a delight.
—Brian Schaefer
july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
The rebellion is coming when Uranus moves through spirited Gemini — so stay tuned and be cognizant of all the world events that are happening and transpiring.
—Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
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Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
Each table, each stool, each spirited exchange between barkeep and guest becomes part of a collective verse.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025
In each, the combination of spirited movement (by Barnes) and gently confessional text (by Saenz de Viteri) in an uncommon, often rarefied, space reliably produced an unforgettable experience that somehow managed to be both deeply insightful and simply a delight.
—Brian Schaefer
july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
The rebellion is coming when Uranus moves through spirited Gemini — so stay tuned and be cognizant of all the world events that are happening and transpiring.
—Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 4 July 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 25 Jul. 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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