plucky

adjective

Definition of pluckynext
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

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 plucky Even after a catastrophic 2023 heatwave set off the worst coral bleaching event in state history, some plucky polyps clung to life. — Nicolás Rivero, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 Save the Last Dance stars Stiles as Sara Johnson, a plucky 17-year-old from the suburbs of Chicago chasing dance dreams that seem increasingly unstable after her mother is killed, forcing her to relocate to the city’s gritty South Side. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 There’s a plucky little Qing Dynasty artifact that at first glance looks out of place among China’s many Forbidden City treasures. — Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 Hayden — plucky and determined and perfectionist, spending hours practicing her skating and utterly focused on getting every acting take spot-on and truthful. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plucky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plucky
  1. brave
  2. courageous
  3. valiant
  4. fearless
  5. determined
  6. gallant
  7. resolute
  8. heroic
Adjective
  • Prioritizing oneself is something Ariana Grande has been brave about as well, with Grande perhaps the poster child for the biggest mental health story of the year.
    — Rob LeDonne, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2026
  • There were a lot of brave guys who stayed to fight there — and people at home don't know what happened.
    — Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of brave
Adjective
  • Sadly, sports reformers across the country have abandoned the hard work of courageous whistleblowers, such as Bensel-Meyers, and now sing the tune of college athlete compensation.
    — Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Being gay was still uncharted territory and their trust, at a time when visibility was dangerous, was courageous.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of courageous
Adjective
  • The Florida Panthers were able to mount a valiant comeback in San Jose, rallying from three goals down in the second period and scoring two in the third before ultimately falling in overtime.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Despite a valiant effort on the water, that milestone failed to normalize a more ever-present female presence at the Cup for almost three decades.
    — Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of valiant
Adjective
  • In this week's episode of 'Friday Night Live,' @latsondheimer + @RandyRosenbloom talk to Paraclete quarterback Shawn Sanders about his versatility, his fearless playing style and the Spirits’ recent success.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Behind the iconic temples, fearless warriors, and legendary philosophers are countless stories that rarely make it into history books.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fearless
Adjective
  • For all her appreciation of history, Chiuri is determined to look forward.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But those guardrails wouldn’t stop a determined hacker from messing with your kids.
    — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of determined
Adjective
  • Susanna Moore is terribly important to us, more so than any of Hemingway’s gallant girls.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • First to one knee and then all the way up like a gallant fighter gathering himself.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of gallant
Adjective
  • Moreover, merely establishing credibility to act cannot necessarily overwhelm a resolute adversary, as has been borne out in Iran.
    — Christopher Nichols, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
  • According to biographer Anne Sebba, Simpson’s answer was resolute.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of resolute
Adjective
  • High on mushrooms and his own unmoored ego, Lee’s not-quite-acceptance speech casts our protagonist as far from the heroic spotlight as anyone literally standing in one can get.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Squash and sausage are a heroic autumnal pairing, especially in a weeknight-friendly pasta.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of heroic

Browse Nearby Words

plucks
plucky
plug
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Cite this Entry

“Plucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plucky. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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