spunky

adjective

ˈspəŋ-kē 

spunkier; spunkiest

: full of spunk : spirited

spunkily

ˈspəŋ-kə-lē 

adverb

spunkiness

ˈspəŋ-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of spunky

• spirited
• fiery
• passionate
• peppery
• brisk
• high-spirited

Examples of spunky in a Sentence

a spunky determination to make the best of a bad situation

Recent Examples on the Web

The mop-haired actor plays Joey, a spunky boy onboard who bonds with Maddie over having absent parents in the military. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

In many ways, this movie set the template for the modern action-comedy blockbuster, but few of its many imitators have come close to matching the spunky edginess and swooning romantic intrigue of the original trend-setter. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

As for her birth story, Lockwood says her smart and spunky 5-year-old daughter knows it all. — Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026

Zann eventually got a call from casting director Meredith Layne and a screenplay with lines that were instantly familiar from her time voicing Rogue, the spunky heroine whose touch can be deadly, in the ‘90s. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spunky

• chunky
• funky
• hunky
• junkie
• monkey

Kids Definition

spunky

adjective

ˈspəŋ-kē 

spunkier; spunkiest

: full of spunk : spirited

spunkily

-kə-lē 

adverb

spunkiness

-kē-nəs 

noun