sprightly 1 of 2

sprightly

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sprightly contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sprightly are animated, gay, lively, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

When might animated be a better fit than sprightly?

In some situations, the words animated and sprightly are roughly equivalent. However, animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

When is it sensible to use gay instead of sprightly?

The meanings of gay and sprightly largely overlap; however, gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Where would lively be a reasonable alternative to sprightly?

While the synonyms lively and sprightly are close in meaning, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

When is vivacious a more appropriate choice than sprightly?

Although the words vivacious and sprightly have much in common, vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

Examples of sprightly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Married for 55 years, they were devoted to each other, with the sprightly 87-year-old Floyd acting as caretaker for 72-year-old Vera, who was diabetic and in poor health. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 29 May 2024 But this production extols Fanny Brice’s comic artistry, provides soaring renditions of Jule Styne standards and brings in plenty of fresh kicks with that sprightly choreography. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2024 Wearing clutch bags from Bottega Veneta and Jacquemus, the effortless accessory adds just the right amount of polish to a look—especially in sprightly shades of green or red. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 17 June 2024 His back foot begins moving at contact, sliding backward and often lifting off the ground entirely — a sprightly flair that no club pro would dare teach. Rick Maese, Washington Post, 13 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for sprightly 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprightly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Podcast

Thesaurus Entries Near sprightly

Cite this Entry

“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprightly. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on sprightly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!