spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ə-təd 
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
spiritedness
noun
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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".
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
There were spirited speeches on Thursday at the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee hearing, where his ordinance passed unanimously.
—
Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2025
Today, the Boykin spaniel is celebrated as South Carolina's official state dog—loved for its loyalty, intelligence, and spirited nature—as Clemmy's joyful antics clearly show.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Guests ascended a green-carpeted staircase to an open-air cocktail hour before heading into a spirited dinner program that honored Olivia Rodrigo and Amanda Zurawski, with appearances from Lily Allen, Laverne Cox, and more.
—Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
Based on the spirited pronouncements of Yiwu sellers, those on the front lines of this international game of chicken are very much prepared to do so.
—Chang Che, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
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Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2025
Today, the Boykin spaniel is celebrated as South Carolina's official state dog—loved for its loyalty, intelligence, and spirited nature—as Clemmy's joyful antics clearly show.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Guests ascended a green-carpeted staircase to an open-air cocktail hour before heading into a spirited dinner program that honored Olivia Rodrigo and Amanda Zurawski, with appearances from Lily Allen, Laverne Cox, and more.
—Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
Based on the spirited pronouncements of Yiwu sellers, those on the front lines of this international game of chicken are very much prepared to do so.
—Chang Che, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ət-əd
: full of courage or energy
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
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