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".

Synonyms of spirited

• fiery
• passionate
• spunky
• brisk
• fervent
• high-spirited

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

Freston’s clean-spirited rise to the C-suite feels discovered rather than engineered. —Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025

In a film full of sadly downtrodden Black women characters, Shug stands out thanks to Avery's spirited portrayal of the sultry blues singer. —Diedre Johnson, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025

Enjoy an authentic menu, curated by Executive Chef, Shawn Broadway, featuring soulful dishes and spirited sips. —Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025

The pieces produced by Coradorables include signature flowy dresses, tailored aloha shirts, and spirited character collections inspired by Spearman-Chang’s daughters and the diverse communities within Hawaii. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spirited

• high-spirited
• low-spirited
• mean-spirited
• poor-spirited
• public-spirited

Rhymes for spirited

• dispirited

Kids Definition

spirited

adjective

spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ət-əd 

: full of courage or energy

a spirited discussion

spiritedly adverb