gutsy

adjective

ˈgət-sē 

gutsier; gutsiest

1

: marked by courage, pluck, or determination

a gutsy little fighter

a gutsy decision

2

a

: expressing or characterized by basic physical senses or passions

gutsy macho talk

gutsy country blues

b

: rough or plain in style : not bland or sophisticated

a gutsy soup

a rich gutsy wine

gutsily

ˈgət-sə-lē 

adverb

gutsiness noun

Synonyms of gutsy

• adventurous
• courageous
• daring
• brave
• fearless
• bold

Examples of gutsy in a Sentence

That was a very gutsy decision.

a gutsy coach willing to let her team improvise on the court

Recent Examples on the Web

On a night that featured plenty of highlights, from Blade Tidwell’s strong start to Dylan Smith’s gutsy relief appearance to Andrew Knizner’s big night, San Francisco couldn’t avoid its 11th walk-off loss of the season. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026

Sights are set this year on an ACC title, but growing pains could ensue in Key's first season without gutsy dual-threat quarterback Haynes King leading the charge. — CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton (2007) tracks the designer’s gutsy overhaul of the storied French label, which until Jacobs’s arrival was known as a historic luxury trunkmaker. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026

Rivera showcased immense resilience, posting a high beam score on Friday, then delivering a gutsy bars routine, a season-high beam, and a strong floor performance on Sunday. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gutsy

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

gutsy

adjective

ˈgət-sē 

gutsier; gutsiest

: aggressively tough : courageous

a gutsy decision

a gutsy hockey player

gutsiness noun