spirited

adjective

spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ə-təd How to pronounce spirited (audio)
: 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".

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
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.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spirited was in 1601

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Cite this Entry

“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

spirited

adjective
spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ət-əd How to pronounce spirited (audio)
: full of courage or energy
a spirited discussion
spiritedly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on spirited

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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