as in nontraditional
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 free-spirited
The two academic institutions each are known for progressive, free-spirited students, a lack of traditional grades, and opportunities for students to design their own course of study.
—
Leah Willingham, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Morgan plays Andre Voss-Emerson, a free-spirited Silicon Valley playboy who has secretly loved supermodel Clara Murphy (Von Schwarz) since high school — just never out loud.
—Peter White, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Princess Margaret was known for being the bubbly, free-spirited counterpart to her older sister, Queen Elizabeth.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
After playing the free-spirited Serena for six seasons, Blake Lively continued her career with appearances in films like Savages (2012), The Age of Adaline (2015), and The Shallows (2016), as well as the box office hit A Simple Favor (2018) and its 2025 sequel.
—Rachel Desantis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
The free, all-ages fest features whimsical costumes, drum circles, live music, hula hooping and the free-spirited atmosphere that defined Austin’s roots.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 6 Apr. 2026
After all, half the fun of attending Coachella is seeing which groovy, free-spirited looks celebrities are wearing on the grounds (in the VIP section, of course).
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2026
Maria's charm and free-spirited manner lead to a surprising future against the backdrop of World War II-era Austria.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 25 Mar. 2026
There’s Soames Forsyte, who has ambitions to take over and expand the family’s financial interests but falls passionately in love with a free-spirited artist named Irene.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Leah Willingham, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Morgan plays Andre Voss-Emerson, a free-spirited Silicon Valley playboy who has secretly loved supermodel Clara Murphy (Von Schwarz) since high school — just never out loud.
—Peter White, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Princess Margaret was known for being the bubbly, free-spirited counterpart to her older sister, Queen Elizabeth.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
After playing the free-spirited Serena for six seasons, Blake Lively continued her career with appearances in films like Savages (2012), The Age of Adaline (2015), and The Shallows (2016), as well as the box office hit A Simple Favor (2018) and its 2025 sequel.
—Rachel Desantis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
The free, all-ages fest features whimsical costumes, drum circles, live music, hula hooping and the free-spirited atmosphere that defined Austin’s roots.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 6 Apr. 2026
After all, half the fun of attending Coachella is seeing which groovy, free-spirited looks celebrities are wearing on the grounds (in the VIP section, of course).
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2026
Maria's charm and free-spirited manner lead to a surprising future against the backdrop of World War II-era Austria.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 25 Mar. 2026
There’s Soames Forsyte, who has ambitions to take over and expand the family’s financial interests but falls passionately in love with a free-spirited artist named Irene.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free-spirited
Adjective
-
However, are there couples who made nontraditional relationships permanent?—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
-
With state-of-the-art technical expertise and mastering of materials, this opened Bulgari up to the world of further exploring nontraditional jewelry materials.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s why the wake is such an out-there sequence.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But there were plenty of out-there, single-use apps, like one that dropped motorcycles from the ceiling.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The festival kicked off with Tuner, starring Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman and directed by Oscar winner Daniel Roher, and concludes tonight with an 80th birthday party tribute to director John Waters, with the iconoclastic filmmaker present.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
-
And Marc Malkin brings us a Just for Variety interview with John Waters, the iconoclastic director who turns 80 on April 22.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With nonconformist narration and characteristic whimsy, her work offers us a space to wonder and reflect in a fraught time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Graham eventually created a work called Heretic about a nonconformist woman who is shunned by her community.—
Elizabeth Blair,
NPR,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The design was by aviation legend Burt Rutan, known for his bold and often maverick creations.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2023
-
Sinema has modeled her political approach on the maverick style of the late Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who alienated the grassroots of his party by sometimes crossing the aisle to work with Democrats.—
Time,
Time,
23 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Guerrilla groups such as Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN), dissident FARC factions and Venezuelan criminal organizations operate across mining zones, frequently imposing taxes on miners and controlling pits through violence.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
There's the dissident intelligence officer Helmuth von Moltke, a conservative who seeks to work from inside against the Nazis (he gets hanged for his trouble).—
John Powers,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Drunkenness, like madness, protects the messengers of heretical truth from disbelief, disdain, and retaliation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This heretical policy gets some support from yet another rigid convention, that of credits, which separates directors from screenwriters.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free-spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-spirited. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
