sprightly

adjective

spright·ly | \ ˈsprīt-lē

sprightlier; sprightliest

Definition of sprightly

1 : marked by a gay lightness and vivacity : spirited a sprightly musical

2 : having a distinctively piquant taste : zesty a sprightly salsa

Other Words from sprightly Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about sprightly

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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

Did You Know?

Sprightly comes from spright, an archaic version of the word we now use for an elf or fairy: sprite. Ariel from 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 that word is believed to be of Scandinavian origin.

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

And the evening’s presentation of trophies was mostly an enjoyable, even sprightly time. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "Winners: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Netflix, and old people. Losers: Atlanta and The Handmaid’s Tale.," 18 Sep. 2018 Never one to follow the rules, the free-spirited Lobell shot shimmer and sparkle through her flirty lip, eye, and face products and branded them with sprightly, stylish cartoon women. — Kathleen Hackett, ELLE Decor, "All in the Family," 4 Oct. 2010 The ceviche is sprightly and well-balanced, the smoked salmon with mango is delightfully '90s and retro cool. — Krista Simmons, Condé Nast Traveler, "15 Best Sushi Restaurants in Los Angeles," 27 Feb. 2018 This might seem strange given that NASA itself is a sprightly fifty-eight. — Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "Inside the Jet Propulsion Laboratory: NASA's Crazy, Kooky, Legendary Research Facility," 3 Nov. 2016 The Atlanta summer games in 1996 had Izzy, a sprightly blue blob who seemed to have escaped from an antacid commercial. — Jason Gay, WSJ, "The Fuzzy Terror of Sports Mascots," 27 Sep. 2018 Mixed-race children are not always born with lighter skin, hazel eyes, or loose, sprightly curls. — Yaminah Mayo, Glamour, "Khloé Kardashian Shouldn't Have to 'Block Out' Racist Remarks About True," 20 Sep. 2018 To keep her ringlets shiny and sprightly, Lou slicks a deep conditioning macadamia treatment into her hair once a week, leaving it in for a day or overnight before washing it with Australian natural brand Sukin's Protein Shampoo. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "This Drake-Approved Singer Is Bringing Back Cool, Crimped Waves," 8 Aug. 2018 By the time Israeli forces killed 14-year-old Mohammad Ayyoub at a protest in Gaza this April, the sprightly but troubled youth had lived through three wars. — Erin Cunningham, Washington Post, "Gazans have survived years of war. Now depression is killing them.," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sprightly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.