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".
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
Wednesday night’s game at the Thomas & Mack Center started much like the first two games earlier this season, with a spirited San Jose State starting five keeping pace with the Broncos.
—
Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
Hearing innocent rumors about strangers can be surprisingly fun, and in the same vein, this survey of the role of gossip in human relationships is more enjoyable than mean-spirited.
—Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Not far sits College Station—home of Texas A&M University—where travelers can experience a spirited college town.
—Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Leonardo DiCaprio is back in Oscar-ready form as a stoner former revolutionary who is left by his spirited love (Teyana Taylor) and struggles to save his daughter (fabulous newcomer Chase Infiniti) from a dastardly nemesis (Sean Penn).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
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Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
Hearing innocent rumors about strangers can be surprisingly fun, and in the same vein, this survey of the role of gossip in human relationships is more enjoyable than mean-spirited.
—Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Not far sits College Station—home of Texas A&M University—where travelers can experience a spirited college town.
—Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Leonardo DiCaprio is back in Oscar-ready form as a stoner former revolutionary who is left by his spirited love (Teyana Taylor) and struggles to save his daughter (fabulous newcomer Chase Infiniti) from a dastardly nemesis (Sean Penn).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 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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