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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pert
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
But on closer inspection, there are differences: This cropper is shirtless, his backside a bit too pert, and the stalks of asparagus growing from the ground are, in fact, penises.
—Max Norman David Chow Victoria Petro-Conroy, New York Times, 19 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
Emily Langer, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022
But on closer inspection, there are differences: This cropper is shirtless, his backside a bit too pert, and the stalks of asparagus growing from the ground are, in fact, penises.
—Max Norman David Chow Victoria Petro-Conroy, New York Times, 19 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
-
Chabada For a livelier scene, head to the main drag along Platja de l’Arenal to find Chabada.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The style throughout, irrespective of category, is lively without being hectic, a pleasing postmodern blend of contemporary, midcentury, and roughly Victorian elements.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Fall travel season is here, and my suitcase is officially in its comfy-but-cute era.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Shoppers call out the cute and functional design.—
Kim Grundy,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Rye whiskey is the drier and spicier cousin of bourbon with an herbaceous edge, an edge which (as with the Sazerac, La Louisiane and others) is given a few dozen exclamation points with a dash of absinthe.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Jan. 2026
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This creamy, cheesy pasta dish gets its extra spicy flavor from Andouille sausage, pepper Jack cheese, and Cajun seasoning.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Whether that’s stand in the pocket, whether that’s run, whether that’s scramble, whether that’s hand the ball off 30 times and be energetic about it.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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The show channels a certain energetic, zany sense of humor viewers could recognize from their own adolescent friendships and antics, culminating in a five-season run and a 2021–2023 revival on Paramount+.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This year, the most piquant examples of the mad mother arrived in dramas of various hues and temperaments.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
-
It is often topped with crispy and raw onions, slathered with piquant sauces (including rémoulade and sweet brown mustard), and served on a toasted bun.—
Lauren Breedlove,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The show's only limit is its imagination, as fans have already seen Captain Pike and his crew delight in musical and animated episodes.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
2 Jan. 2026
-
The sequel, which has the Ghostbusters facing off with the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian and his profoundly negative vibes, ends in a joyous celebration that brings the Big Apple together while an animated Statue of Liberty stomps to the rescue.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Flaky phyllo dough is filled with zesty harissa sauce and halloumi cheese and sprinkled with breadcrumbs and paprika for a savory bite-sized snack.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Add a pinch of cayenne, cumin, and a squeeze of lemon juice for a zesty, savory twist that gives your morning a flavorful kick.—
Lauren O'Connor,
Health,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
From lanterns several stories tall and hundreds of feet long to interactive exhibits that animate and breathe fire (in the form of smoke, Lewis clarifies), the festival evokes a deep sense of awe.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
23 Nov. 2025
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Political violence in the late summer and early fall, along with a government shutdown that began Oct. 1 also appeared to animate voters in the final days of the campaign.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pert. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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