1
as in soul
an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power
the theological and philosophical belief that the spirit is superior to the body
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mode
a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion
had been in a combative spirit all week
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
Hamlet's late father appears to him in the form of a spirit and with the revelation that he was in fact murdered
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in liquor
spirits plural
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk
a hotel bar that's well stocked with spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of spirit
Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
With indoor and outdoor seating, Post offers a menu of spirit and wine flights, along with a dedicated flight of non-alcoholic wines (still hard to find in wine countries).
—Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 13 June 2026
Mandeep Rai, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Residents, businesses and fans are invited to show their team spirit through generosity.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirit
Noun
Floral woodiness and a lovely harmony between the spirit and the wood.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
With indoor and outdoor seating, Post offers a menu of spirit and wine flights, along with a dedicated flight of non-alcoholic wines (still hard to find in wine countries).
—Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 13 June 2026
Verb
Em embodies that spirit perfectly.
—Mandeep Rai, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Residents, businesses and fans are invited to show their team spirit through generosity.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirit
Noun
-
Whatever conclusions investigators might reach, the loss of at least 50 souls, and the wounding of dozens more innocents, is an unbearable blow for any community.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
-
Sencer is thrilled at this milestone, four decades after that soul-searching moment at the hatchery with his daughter.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Vegas pulled Carter Hart with about three minutes to go, officially entering desperation mode, but nothing worked, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored an empty-netter to start the party.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
Salaviza described the short form as a pure mode of expression in which authentic emotion is fundamental, while von Döhren – drawing on her parallel career as an illustrator – emphasized how effectively the format can convey feeling through storytelling.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Elytra Dark will serve as a transfer vehicle to bring the Blue ghost lander to the moon.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
-
California is hardest hit, with officials dismantling 'ghost' agencies created to steal taxpayer money.—
Wes Kilgore,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
But people more commonly associate sports with beer, Nesin said, so the World Cup will be a bigger boost to their business than liquor.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
One person was taken to the hospital after a fire broke out early Monday at a bar and liquor store in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
As part of our Language of Soccer World Cup series, The Athletic is speaking to supporters of all 48 nations competing at the 2026 edition to capture their unique football culture, distilled into a single phrase.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
The places featured here, selected by local editors, highlight just some of the landmarks and destinations that capture the region’s significance as the nation marks 250 years.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
When the last vestiges of the classic-rock era finally fade, many of the moments that made up its truest essence will be impossible to explain to those who missed it.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
-
That's the essence of red zone chaos.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Designers have traded the exclusively minimalist mood of recent summers for options that encourage self-expression.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
9 June 2026
-
Different gut microbes also support our health in various ways, Preidis said — including optimizing nutrient absorption from food, regulating the immune system and communicating with our brain to control sleep and mood.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Venus, on the other hand, reaches its highest altitude in the western evening twilight during June for this current apparition and captures the gaze of millions.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
5 June 2026
-
That late-game run––forty-four points to the Cavs’ eleven––was as soul-crushing to Cleveland as the apparition of Willis Reed, hobbling to center court, had been to the Lakers fifty-six years ago.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spirit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirit. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
