sprightly

adjective

spright·​ly ˈsprīt-lē How to pronounce sprightly (audio)
sprightlier; sprightliest
1
: marked by a gay lightness and vivacity : spirited
a sprightly musical
2
: having a distinctively piquant taste : zesty
a sprightly salsa
sprightliness noun
sprightly adverb

Did you know?

Sprightly comes from spright, an archaic version of the word we now use for an elf or fairy: sprite. Ariel from William Shakespeare's The Tempest and the leprechaun of Irish mythology are often referred to as sprites, and it's no coincidence that both are characterized by their light, flitting movements and mannerisms. Sprite derives via Middle English and Old French from the Latin spiritus, which of course gives us spirit as well. A similar-looking adjective that can describe someone who is nimble and energetic is spry, but the origin of that word is not known.

Choose the Right Synonym for sprightly

lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited.

lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Examples of sprightly in a Sentence

a sprightly child who often claims to be too tired to move when it's time to do chores
Recent Examples on the Web Five-year-olds and sprightly grandparents alike can pick up legs ranging from five to seven miles, averaging 2.15 to 4.5 walking hours per day, on a path that stretches from Silian in Gailtal to Liesing in Lesachtal. Astrid Därr, TIME, 25 July 2024 This has certainly been the case on red carpets recently: The best dressed stars of the week all slipped into designs that felt modern and elevated, ranging from slinky, minimalist slip dresses to bold cocktail dresses in sprightly florals. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 June 2024 Married for 55 years, they were devoted to each other, with the sprightly 87-year-old Floyd acting as caretaker for 72-year-old Vera, who was diabetic and in poor health. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 29 May 2024 But this production extols Fanny Brice’s comic artistry, provides soaring renditions of Jule Styne standards and brings in plenty of fresh kicks with that sprightly choreography. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for sprightly 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprightly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

obsolete spright (sprite), alteration of sprite

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sprightly was in 1592

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Cite this Entry

“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprightly. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

sprightly

adjective
spright·​ly ˈsprīt-lē How to pronounce sprightly (audio)
sprightlier; sprightliest
: full of spirit : lively
sprightliness noun
sprightly adverb

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