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gutsy

adjective

ˈgət-sē How to pronounce gutsy (audio)
Definition of gutsynext
1
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks a gutsy coach willing to let her team improvise on the court

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in courageous
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament they were gutsy enough to attempt a rescue on their own

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 gutsy Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton (2007) tracks the designer’s gutsy overhaul of the storied French label, which until Jacobs’s arrival was known as a historic luxury trunkmaker. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026 Rivera showcased immense resilience, posting a high beam score on Friday, then delivering a gutsy bars routine, a season-high beam, and a strong floor performance on Sunday. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Rallying the independent and moderate Republican base behind Cox to try to push him across the finish line goes beyond a gutsy call. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026 Each sentence is diamond cut … Buntin has outdone herself … leases and provokes from every vantage point, but what is especially remarkable is Buntin’s audacity, her gutsy choices, and her clarity. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for gutsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gutsy
  1. adventurous
  2. courageous
  3. daring
  4. brave
  5. fearless
  6. valiant
  7. bold
  8. heroic
Adjective
  • Vindell, who was wearing a green four-leaf clover T-shirt to honor McHugh, remembered her cousin as someone who was adventurous and always smiling.
    — Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Dora the Explorer Across eight increasingly adventurous seasons, Dora the Explorer taught us that active participation was not only cool but often the key to unlocking life’s great secrets.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of adventurous
Adjective
  • The courageous woman at the center of that series survived long enough to give a dying statement, in the hope that her testimony would set a precedent and make the world safer for others.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Fine publicly praised his wife following her testimony, describing her as strong and courageous in a statement read outside the courthouse by attorney Douglas Wigdor.
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of courageous
Adjective
  • From classic works to recent and more structurally daring standouts, historical fiction remains one of writing’s most popular forms.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Bob Mackie, the legendary costume designer behind some of pop culture’s most dazzling—and daring—fashion moments, has passed at 87.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of daring
Adjective
  • Watching someone make a brave decision or step into a new version of themselves matters deeply to me.
    — Michelle De Almeida, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • This brave girl fought her way through treatment and is now a happy, healthy survivor ready for the next chapter of her life — a forever home.
    — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of brave
Adjective
  • The great Life magazine photographers—Alfred Eisenstaedt, Robert Capa, and all—were pioneering, fearless, and often weird.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 15 Sep. 2026
  • First released in arcades in 1999, the game puts players behind the wheel of a fearless cabbie racing the clock through chaotic city streets — flying off ramps, dodging traffic, and chasing tips with punk-rock energy.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of fearless
Adjective
  • Which puts a spotlight on the embarrassing disorder of Expo Park itself (despite valiant efforts from its current leadership, including a parking lot soon to be turned into a park near BMO Stadium).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Tong’s valiant charge promises to yield returns in the longer term, but CT leadership must do more now to restore Connecticut’s reputation and status as a haven for all families.
    — Dr. SJ Job, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of valiant
Adjective
  • Still, the current team does have a rare shot at shaping an orchestra that is not only reliably exciting and frequently profound but also casually bold and genuinely fun — making for a crucial presence in the city as well as at Geffen Hall.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • His bold, unique style was an immediate hit with ad agencies, publications, the corporate world and in pop culture.
    — BETH J. HARPAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of bold
Adjective
  • Mitch Holthus absolutely losing his mind as Patrick Mahomes opens 2026 with a heroic 15-yard TD run.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Peck walked away with a new appreciation of the range of his grandfather, who was best known for playing heroic and morally upright roles in films such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Cape Fear and The Omen.
    — Scott Huver, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of heroic

Browse Nearby Words

guts it out
gutsy
gutted
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Cite this Entry

“Gutsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gutsy. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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