spirited

1 of 3

adjective

spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ə-təd 

: full of energy, animation, or courage

a spirited discussion

spiritedly adverb

spiritedness noun

spirited

2 of 3

past tense and past participle of spirit entry 2

spiritedness

3 of 3

noun

plural -es

: the quality or state of being spirited : animation, liveliness, vivacity

her natural spiritedness detested the monotony

—George Meredith

—often used in combination

mean-spiritedness

public-spiritedness

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

The setup is intended to encourage an engaged, forward-leaning posture suited to spirited riding. — New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

Heather Morris, who portrayed ditzy, high-spirited cheerleader Brittany, and Chord Overstreet, who played Sam Evans in the original series, are in talks to return for the reboot, sources have confirmed to Deadline. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Jacinta, meanwhile, brings the spirited, colorful energy of contemporary Mexican cooking with an array of tacos, tostadas, tamales, and traditional techniques. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026

Then Traitors star Maura Higgins lifted the mood with a spirited jig in honor of her beloved home country of Ireland. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 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