spirited

1 of 2

adjective

spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ə-təd 

: full of energy, animation, or courage

a spirited discussion

spiritedly adverb

spiritedness noun

spirited

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of spirit entry 2

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

Adjective

• fiery
• passionate
• spunky
• brisk
• high-spirited
• fervent
• peppery

Examples of spirited in a Sentence

Adjective

The team put up a spirited defense.

She's a very spirited young lady.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

However, this is a far cry from earlier times when lawmakers met regularly, participated in spirited and substantive policy discussions, enjoyed informal dinners and even carpooled back home during congressional breaks. — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Rather than pitching himself, Cruz is making a spirited case for the Republican Senate bid of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

Tomlinson joins as Laura Quinn, Cat’s younger sister, a spirited single mother with a stubborn streak and her hands full. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Tomlinson plays Cat’s younger sister, Laura Quinn, a spirited single mother with a stubborn streak who had her hands full long before the people of Stillwater suddenly stopped aging or dying. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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