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
The small, but spirited, Peruvian fan group in the north stands banged its drums and waved flags, finally able to be part of the party.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
The formation, located at the Durupinar site in eastern Turkey, has been studied since it was first identified in the 1950s and has long been the subject of spirited debate.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
In the stands at matches, Ivory Coast fans are known for their ebullience and spirited support.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 5 June 2026
The 2018 Broadway musical opened Wednesday in a high-spirited and funny production at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
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Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
The formation, located at the Durupinar site in eastern Turkey, has been studied since it was first identified in the 1950s and has long been the subject of spirited debate.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
In the stands at matches, Ivory Coast fans are known for their ebullience and spirited support.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 5 June 2026
The 2018 Broadway musical opened Wednesday in a high-spirited and funny production at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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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