as in nontraditional
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Recent Examples of free-spirited
Kudrow, who starred as the free-spirited Phoebe Buffay, said the writers reprimanded the cast for forgetting lines and spent their off-hours fantasizing about her female co-stars.
—
Jack Dunn, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
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
Jack Dunn, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free-spirited
Adjective
-
And, increasingly, buzzy breakout nontraditional voices — like Scott Jennings — can be as valuable (and expensive) as seasoned reporters.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
-
Noel Almario, family health care consultant Almario describes herself as a nontraditional political candidate with a background as a birth doula who works as a private consultant helping families navigate the healthcare system.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
As a performer, these characters are out-there.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
-
That’s why the wake is such an out-there sequence.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Most of the works are from series such as Canal Zone, Protest Paintings, and The Entertainers, digging deep into Prince’s iconoclastic id.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
-
Ted Turner, an outspoken, iconoclastic businessman, media mogul and philanthropist whose visionary creation of a 24-hour news network changed the landscape of television, and news, forever, died at 87.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
When personal finance tips resonate with a viewers’ values, everyday financial decision-making can become colored with politics and nonconformist sentiments.—
Maximilian Brichta,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2026
-
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
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
-
During the pavilion’s preview, a brief but loud protest led by Russian dissident disruptors Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN might have been the most exciting thing to happen at the underwhelming and carelessly presented group show of live performance and video art.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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The Biennale has been the stage for numerous protests already since its May 5 preview opening, with dissident Russian artist collective Pussy Riot among the demonstrators.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
8 May 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 13 May. 2026.
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