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

Photo of the Week Top of the World – Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in a bad-spirited FIFA World Cup Final to be crowned champions for the second time in their history. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 July 2026

But starting carries some cache, and there will be a spirited competition between Blount (who’s superior to Lightfoot as a run defender) and Lightfoot (a highly skilled pass rusher who’s better as a run defender than his light frame might suggest). — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

In canvas, raffia, or even terry cloth, the striped styles of the season add a spirited touch to any look. — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 21 July 2026

Second-year point guard Kaitlyn Chen gave the Valkyries a huge spark off the bench to ignite a spirited scoring attack in the second half. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 21 July 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