sprightly

spright·ly

adj \-lē\

spright·li·erspright·li·est

Definition of SPRIGHTLY

1

: marked by a gay lightness and vivacity : spirited <a sprightly musical>

2

: having a distinctively piquant taste : zesty <a sprightly salsa>

— spright·li·ness noun

— sprightly adverb

Examples of SPRIGHTLY

1. <a sprightly child who often claims to be too tired to move when it's time to do chores>

Origin of SPRIGHTLY

obsolete spright (sprite), alteration of sprite

First Known Use: 1596

Related to SPRIGHTLY

Synonyms: active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy (or pizazzy), racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, lively, 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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See Synonym Discussion at lively

Rhymes with SPRIGHTLY

brightly, knightly, lightly, nightly, rightly, sightly, slightly, tightly, tritely, whitely