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
gutsily adverb
gutsiness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Banks and Jessica Biel, these two performances are so gutsy. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 May 2025 The decision to entirely reboot RHONY after its disastrous 13th season — a creaky, claustrophobic season where the cast were still navigating Covid restrictions — was a gutsy move. Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2025 Heavy themes and a harrowing story Death Stranding 2’s more refined gameplay experience stands in contrast to a story that’s extremely gutsy, topical, and sometimes nauseatingly self-referential. Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025 But the brand enjoys a mystique because gutsy, active users take Randalls with them on dangerous adventures. Erik German, Fortune, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gutsy

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gutsy was circa 1893

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gutsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gutsy. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

gutsy

adjective
gutsier; gutsiest
: aggressively tough : courageous
a gutsy decision
a gutsy hockey player
gutsiness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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