as in nontraditional
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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
-
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
-
Teenagers are more inclined than their elders to get news from nontraditional sources such as social media and influencers, heralding a generational shift in how people seek out information.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 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
-
Massie’s campaign had erected a large tent there, in anticipation that a big crowd would flock to hear perhaps the most outspoken and iconoclastic Republican in Congress.—
Joshua Green,
Bloomberg,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Phillippe, who has a multi-year deal, will star as a brilliant, iconoclastic detective who moves to Nashville from New York.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 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
-
Part of a wave of dissident departures, Carvajal’s defection was akin to a dam breaking, then-US Senator Marco Rubio said at the time.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The government has blamed the attacks on the Jaime Martínez faction, a dissident group of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, operating in the region that did not adhere to the peace accord signed with the state in 2016.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 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 4 May. 2026.
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