spirit 1 of 2

Definition of spiritnext
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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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spirit

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word spirit distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of spirit are courage, mettle, resolution, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

When might courage be a better fit than spirit?

While the synonyms courage and spirit are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When could mettle be used to replace spirit?

The words mettle and spirit can be used in similar contexts, but mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

In what contexts can resolution take the place of spirit?

Although the words resolution and spirit have much in common, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

How are the words tenacity and resolution related as synonyms of spirit?

Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

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
Noun
Commitment to volunteering and community service is a dominant theme of the film, so what better way to celebrate a town known for volunteerism than to further drive that spirit. Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026 Get in the holiday spirit with this precious pink cardigan sweater that’s primed for Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day celebrations alike. Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
Machado was spirited out of the country to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in December, and her team declined to comment on her current whereabouts. CBS News, 4 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
  • The crunchy Larkin Poe album embodies the musical slipperiness of Americana as an ideal, a carefree cruise through country, blues, rock, and soul; the Molly Tuttle album brims with the rustic zest of early Sheryl Crow.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Produced by Yohan Usuga, this collective performance captures the soul of the genre and amplifies the song’s emotional resonance.
    Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Accustomed to selfie mode in her time as a Holo influencer, Sakunja Salazar crashed out hard; now, her only second chance at being taken seriously is in documenting other people’s stories.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Their Eyes adopts the documentary mode and is narrated entirely by crowdworkers—specifically, annotators contracted to segment and label images to create training data for self-driving cars.
    Farren Fei Yuan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The silk mousseline garments floated almost like ghosts or memories of Chanel designs past, including the famous skirt suit with its matching cardigan and Karl Lagerfeld modernisms like jeans with a tweed jacket, plus the iconic flap bag.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Elytra Dark will serve as a transfer vehicle to bring the Blue ghost lander to the moon.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The participants reported their average weekly intake of beer, wine and liquor intake during four age periods — 18 to 24, 25 to 39, 40 to 54, and 55 and older.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • In 2021, Tatmon was observed loitering outside a liquor store directly across the street from the Sky Market with two other men, one of whom subsequently shot and killed Edward Morgan, 41, of Oakland, during a confrontation.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • One photographer visited Uganda and captured the striking image of a mountain of snares, used to trap wildlife and confiscated by the nation’s rangers.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
  • That distinction captures the precarious foundation of today’s AI economy, which runs on venture-capital FOMO, not paying customers.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Joe’s Stone Crab is as definable of the Miami Beach essence as the city’s distinctive Art Deco along Ocean Drive, its beaches and the Fontainebleau hotel.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
  • That being said, when time is of the essence, Winair remains the quickest option—because who wants to waste a single minute of island time?
    Molly Barstein, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Scent is an under-appreciated sense, and one with deep connections to our mood and memory.
    Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Such a seamless, peaceful transition of power is wincingly rare in fashion, and stands out against the wider industry mood.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Juggling demanding apparitions alongside staff burnout, family pressures and a coworker who seems to know more about her than expected, the series grounds its supernatural premise in the cultural specificity of the Filipino healthcare experience.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
  • An apparition will appear before us.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Spirit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirit. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

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