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

The evening closes out with a spirited and twerk-forward performance from Zara Larsson. —Jada Yuan, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026

The other issue on fans’ minds this weekend is whether La Familia, Inter Miami’s ardent fan group, will be back to its usual noisy, spirited selves Sunday after staging an 85-minute silent protest during last Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers. —Michelle Kaufman may 22, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026

Whether searching for country primitive antiques, Gilded Age postcards, pottery, glassware, or military memorabilia, the shop owners in this spirited downtown have a reputation for impeccable service and working together to assist shoppers. —Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 22 May 2026

Simpson doesn’t appear to have mounted a spirited defense. —ArsTechnica, 22 May 2026

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