1
as in lively
having much high-spirited energy and movement
a pert girl who is a member of the cheerleading squad
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cute
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred
a pert retort that irritated the teacher
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in spicy
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses
a pert suggestion for a truly original marketing campaign
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pert
His left arm is akimbo and his right arm is raised, in a pert military salute, to his forehead.
—
Benjamin Moser, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024
Sales were boosted by a national prime-time television ad campaign in which a disorganized young man bumps into a pert young woman at the library, knocking her Trapper to the floor.
—Emily Langer, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022
The airport is three miles away, and the central shopping and dining district is contained within a pert five-block grid.
—Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2022
Don’t Look Up in a pale blue Gucci suit, standing alongside a beaming, pregnant Jennifer Lawrence, a clean-cut Leonardo Dicaprio, and a pert Meryl Streep.
—Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for pert
Benjamin Moser, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024
Sales were boosted by a national prime-time television ad campaign in which a disorganized young man bumps into a pert young woman at the library, knocking her Trapper to the floor.
—Emily Langer, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022
The airport is three miles away, and the central shopping and dining district is contained within a pert five-block grid.
—Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2022
Don’t Look Up in a pale blue Gucci suit, standing alongside a beaming, pregnant Jennifer Lawrence, a clean-cut Leonardo Dicaprio, and a pert Meryl Streep.
—Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for pert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pert
Adjective
-
The steak was soft on the inside and as crunchy as the herb-flecked fries on the out, and the buttery Dijon spread ringing the plate added a lively dimension.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
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This is one of our liveliest, a recipe packed with fresh berries and savory bacon, making for an ideal flavor balance.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This cute mini skort can be worn with any top already in your wardrobe, or with the Gap crop tank top as a matching set.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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The idea of putting a cute sticker on your body every day to take a supplement seems fun in theory.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Since then, she’s cultivated family-favorite cucumbers, delicate butter lettuce, spicy arugula and herbs of all kinds in the metal-and-glass structure with a shed roof.—
Mary Grace Granados,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Dishes like Indian street corn, pumpkin chana masala, and spicy seafood soup drive home the restaurant’s emphasis on spices and herbs, and an open-air setting allows diners to bask in the sounds and smells of the surrounding rainforest.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Attendees will also enjoy an elevated networking reception and delicious tastings from local restaurants, creating a dynamic and energetic atmosphere for meaningful connections.—
Dawn Giangiulio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
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Another challenge came from working on a project for five years and trying to keep everybody aligned, motivated and energetic.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Red cabbage, carrots and Tuscan kale form the base, bound together with a piquant balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
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The comments section features a piquant blend of solemnity, mortification, tastelessness, and transphobia, which accords with Moreschi’s reception in his lifetime.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The animated series is run by Brad Walsh and Paul Corrigan, who ran the live-action series with me.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Mar. 2026
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That call will depend on your kid's maturity level and tolerance for animated violence.—
Alex Shoemaker,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Lemon juice adds a zesty dressing topped with fresh herbs.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
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Notes of citrus, white florals, and tropical fruits create a zesty, subtly sweet aroma that's perfect for the balmy months ahead.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The same traits—sloppy reasoning but a desire for collective punishment—animate other immigration-policy announcements.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
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Those same questions animate America’s healthcare system, where nurses, disproportionately women and people of color, shoulder the emotional and physical burden of institutions under stress.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pert. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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