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
Relevance
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
Just as its title values blunt simplicity, Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote’s screenplay sets up the film’s central murder club with pert efficiency.
—
Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
On a September morning in 1914 a pert and pretty 21-year-old girl from Spokane, Washington, put her horse into what hundreds of onlookers regarded as a somewhat hazardous climb.
—Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2025
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
Plenty sweet, to be sure, but certainly not cloying, and despite the grapes’ long hang time the flavors are perfectly fresh — pert and bright, as opposed to the stewy-fruit notes that often burden late-harvest wines.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 July 2019
See All Example Sentences for pert
Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
On a September morning in 1914 a pert and pretty 21-year-old girl from Spokane, Washington, put her horse into what hundreds of onlookers regarded as a somewhat hazardous climb.
—Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2025
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
Plenty sweet, to be sure, but certainly not cloying, and despite the grapes’ long hang time the flavors are perfectly fresh — pert and bright, as opposed to the stewy-fruit notes that often burden late-harvest wines.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 July 2019
See All Example Sentences for pert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pert
Adjective
-
Frying is an art, perhaps plied nowhere with such efficiency and aplomb as at this lively lunch counter, where the very air seems to crackle and the scent of pork incites the blood.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Lochte, 41, was one of the faces of swimming during the heights of his career, with major sponsorships, endorsements and appearances on TV shows displaying his lively personality.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
AshleGryre Shop for breezy sundresses, cute beach coverups, bikinis, and raffia platforms at AshleGryre, a fashion-forward women’s boutique right across from Dune House in Atlantic Beach.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
-
Sure, robots can be kitschy and cute, but frankly, their growing presence has begun to irk and distract me, becoming a bit too synonymous with gimmicky pan-Asian hotpot fare.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Grilled spam, traditionally served on rice cakes, is settled onto crispy hash browns, wrapped with nori and served with a side of spicy sriracha mayo.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
11 May 2026
-
Or there’s the adobo pork, which is this tangy, spicy pork stew.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hsu’s character Kristen is an energetic surfer, who finds joy and freedom in the ocean.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
-
The central region of Messier 77 is dominated by an extremely compact and energetic source that outshines the rest of the galaxy combined, even challenging the sensitivity of the James Webb Space Telescope itself.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
The piquant dish is lacquered with strawberry-guajillo barbecue sauce, while a punchy coleslaw with Fresno chile vinaigrette rounds things out.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
Conductors often fetishize the opening bars of this opera, their squirmy alternation of silence and piquant dissonance.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Lion Forge Entertainment develops and produces animated and live-action content targeting kids and family, YA and adult audiences.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The company is taking advantage of California’s recent changes to the tax incentive program expanding the eligible categories of production to include animated movies.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bright in color and flavor, the zesty lime dressing brings out the fresh flavor that is sure to be enjoyed by everyone at your gathering.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
-
Smoky paprika adds zesty flavor without added salt and is a good source of polyphenols.—
Christopher Bergland,
Verywell Health,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Zugunruhe is the itinerant desire of any animate being to keep moving and growing.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 May 2026
-
The house is dizzyingly animate, like a video game where every object is a glowing grail.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pert. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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