moxie

1 knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something <it was old-fashioned military moxie that got medical supplies to the disaster site in record time> Synonyms chops, expertise, know-how, experience, proficiency, savvy, skillsRelated Words background; command, mastery; acquaintance, conversance, familiarity, intimacyNear Antonyms ignorance, unawareness, unfamiliarityAntonyms inexperience

2 strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger <a fearless journalist who denounced McCarthyism when few had the moxie to do so> Synonyms bottle [British slang], bravery, courageousness, daring, daringness, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, guts, gutsiness, hardihood, heart, heroism, intestinal fortitude, intrepidity, intrepidness, courage, nerve, pecker [chiefly British], prowess, stoutness, valor, virtueRelated Words backbone, fiber, fortitude, grit, gumption, mettle, pluck, pluckiness, spunk, temper; determination, perseverance, resolution; endurance, stamina, stomach, tenacity; audacity, boldness, brazenness, cheek, cojones [slang], effrontery, gall, temerityNear Antonyms cold feet, faintheartedness, fearfulness, mousiness, timidity, timorousness; feebleness, softness, weakness; impotence, ineffectualness; hesitation, indecision, indecisiveness, irresolutionAntonyms cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, poltroonery, spinelessness

3 active strength of body or mind <say, you're full of moxie this morning!> Synonyms beans, bounce, brio, dash, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit, gas, get-up-and-go, ginger, go, gusto, hardihood, juice, life, vigor, oomph, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vim, vinegar, vitality, zing, zipRelated Words animal spirits, animation, briskness, jauntiness, liveliness, snappiness, spirit, spiritedness, sprightliness, spunk, spunkiness, vibrance, vibrancy, vivaciousness, vivacity; ardor, élan, fervor, fire, passion, zeal; main, metal, mettle, might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, stamina, strength; brawniness, fitness, hardiness, huskiness, sturdiness, virility; health, healthiness, soundness, verdure, wellnessNear Antonyms indolence, laziness; debilitation, debility, delicacy, disablement, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, impotency, infirmity, powerlessness, puniness, slightness, softness, tenderness, weakness; enervation, exhaustion, inanition, prostrationAntonyms lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, torpidity