as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a panel of political pundits with a well-earned reputation for unfettered feistiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a feisty hockey player who has spent more than his share of time in the penalty box
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of feistiness
Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Drescher brought greater visibility and idiosyncratic feistiness to SAG-AFTRA, but can that momentum be sustained?
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
Their abrupt adoption of a feisty goshawk named Mable is prompted by the sudden death of their father, respected photojournalist Alisdair MacDonald, played in the film by Brendan Gleeson.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feistiness
Noun
Covino’s facility with his ensemble is to draw out their inherent screen qualities, from Marvin’s ebullience, to Arjona’s energetic feistiness, to Johnson’s unflappable cool.
—Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Drescher brought greater visibility and idiosyncratic feistiness to SAG-AFTRA, but can that momentum be sustained?
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
While the Dolphins put together a feisty first-half effort, Miami eventually folded during the 28-15 loss, getting bullied by the AFC North-leading Steelers in the second half.
—Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
Their abrupt adoption of a feisty goshawk named Mable is prompted by the sudden death of their father, respected photojournalist Alisdair MacDonald, played in the film by Brendan Gleeson.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feistiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feistiness
Noun
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His reckless decision to escalate the aggression and number of immigration agents is a causal factor, regardless of the outcome of an investigation into this tragic death.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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When the music dissolves into an ethereal, ambient soundscape and a psychedelic, spiritual journey, that’s where finding the right amount of energy, aggression, violence, and grief, to support the story and to explain things that the dialog couldn’t, was the most challenging part.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That’s the kind of chance that last season, a more aggressive-looking Stolarz would have used his frame — and frankly, his big-game presence — to turn away with ease.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The agency has also faced criticism for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in executing the president’s immigration policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Davion Mitchell’s defense and aggressiveness?—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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That aggressiveness defined December.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Israel and the Lebanese militant group exchanged fire for over a year before reaching a ceasefire in November 2024.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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Iran has been plagued for years by staggering hyperinflation, fueled by Western sanctions imposed over the hardline clerical government's nuclear program and backing for militant groups across the region.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Overnight, a show of defiance inside Venezuela from Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondón, who posted a video to social media making his allegiances clear.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
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During her own allocution moments later, Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, likewise struck a note of defiance and introduced herself as the First Lady of Venezuela, her face appearing bruised and bandaged.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Skepticism came easily to Trump, who had long been hostile to mainstream foreign policy.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
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The helicopter the pilot was flying — a heavy, twin-rotor MH-47 Chinook — was struck by hostile fire during the operation.—
January 9,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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After years of fighting for its survival in the face of hacks and growing regulatory hostility, crypto’s fortunes abruptly change.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Jewish and civil rights groups blasted the move as weakening safeguards, fueling criticism that Mamdani’s early agenda signals hostility toward Israel and the Jewish community.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This sparked a contentious debate about whether our species originally emerged outside of Africa, before returning there.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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His resignation comes after last month's trial in which inflammatory texts Phelps sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Feistiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feistiness. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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