as in brave
informal
having or showing a lot of courage or determination
A plucky young man who never gave up on his dream.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plucky
Scores of plucky swimmers plunged into 2026 early Thursday by stripping to their bathing suits in the near-freezing temperatures at DeLeon Springs State Park and jumping into the steamy water.
—
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Starz Someone Like You (2001) New Year's Eve rolls around, and our hero, Jane (the plucky Ashley Judd), gets stood up by her bad-news ex-boyfriend/colleague, Ray (Greg Kinnear).
—Kate Stroup, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
The Dark Ages to plucky indie projects like Routine and Citizen Sleeper 2.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Whether that introduction strikes you as impossibly naïve or a requisite leap of faith will determine if Ella McCay, both the film and the plucky protagonist, rings true.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plucky
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Starz Someone Like You (2001) New Year's Eve rolls around, and our hero, Jane (the plucky Ashley Judd), gets stood up by her bad-news ex-boyfriend/colleague, Ray (Greg Kinnear).
—Kate Stroup, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
The Dark Ages to plucky indie projects like Routine and Citizen Sleeper 2.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Whether that introduction strikes you as impossibly naïve or a requisite leap of faith will determine if Ella McCay, both the film and the plucky protagonist, rings true.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plucky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plucky
Adjective
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Those specifics aside, more stunningly, researchers discovered that these brave, early explorers of new worlds demonstrated a different way of moving than had been previously understood.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
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If Tulsa, Oklahoma, can create this support system from scratch and help thousands of strangers succeed in a new town, any organization can adapt to support their employees in our brave, new remote world.—
Justin Harlan,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The powerful Sun clashes with Chiron by way of your chatter quadrant and your habit zone, encouraging you to address a tricky situation at work or in your neighborhood with courageous calm.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Do not let the voices of my courageous compatriots be silenced.—
Tucker Reals,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But the Thunder, as small as can be without injured centers Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and Holmgren, pieced together a valiant comeback behind the efforts of eight-year veteran forward Kenrich Williams.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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Knicks fans booed their valiant, heroic, oftentimes teflon team when the Hawks’ lead ballooned to 29 points midway through the third quarter.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The new mayor is best served by a fearless watchdog making sure that the public’s interests are protected from thievery and graft, which is sure to happen.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The comedian, known for her razor-sharp wit and fearless approach to comedy, made waves with her hosting debut in 2025, earning critical acclaim for her performance.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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She was pronounced dead at the scene, and her cause of death was later determined to be blunt force trauma to the head, the Athens-Clarke County Coroner’s Office and Morgue confirmed to PEOPLE.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Two years later, Poppy is determined to get them back on track.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Christ pulls him out of a tiny hole, like a gallant medieval knight rescuing a maiden in distress.—
Mary Dzon,
The Conversation,
12 Dec. 2025
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And yet, welcoming that idea can shock the system because our popular conception of the American Revolution is so often encased in bloodless, gallant myth.—
Sarah Botstein,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The new portrait shows Trump standing over the resolute desk with his fists on it, looking into the camera in a black-and-white photo.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
12 Jan. 2026
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Your productive 6th house and your resolute 12th house are both impacted by the vibrant Sun opposing wise Jupiter.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For his battle-worn, brooding rendition of the heroic outlaw in the A24 film, the Les Misérables actor shows off a long gray beard paired with silver locks—a far cry from other Robin Hoods portrayed by actors like Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Russell Crowe.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
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Her father grew up in Vichy France and was obsessed with her long-dead grandfather, Georges, a Belgian Jew with a heroic and tragic life that became a family myth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plucky. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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