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spirit

Q: How is the word 'spirit' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of spirit are courage , mettle , resolution , and tenacity . While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened. // her spirit was unbroken by failure

Q: When might 'courage' be a better fit than 'spirit'?

While the synonyms courage and spirit are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty. // the courage to support unpopular causes

Q: When could 'mettle' be used to replace 'spirit'?

The words mettle and spirit can be used in similar contexts, but mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience. // a challenge that will test your mettle

Q: In what contexts can 'resolution' take the place of 'spirit'?

Although the words resolution and spirit have much in common, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends. // the resolution of pioneer women

Q: How are the words 'tenacity' and 'resolution' related as synonyms of 'spirit'?

Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat. // held to their beliefs with great tenacity

noun

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Synonyms & Antonyms of spirit

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power

the theological and philosophical belief that the spirit is superior to the body

Synonyms for spirit

psyche,
soul

Words Related to spirit

life,
vitality

Near Antonyms for spirit

body,
flesh

2 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion

had been in a combative spirit all week

Synonyms for spirit

Words Related to spirit

strain

Phrases Synonymous with spirit

frame of mind

3 the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people

Hamlet's late father appears to him in the form of a spirit and with the revelation that he was in fact murdered

Synonyms for spirit

apparition,
bogey
(also bogie or bogy),
familiar spirit,
ghost,
hant
[dialect],
haunt
[chiefly dialect],
materialization,
phantasm
(also fantasm),
phantom,
poltergeist,
shade,
shadow,
specter
(or spectre),
spook,
sprite,
vision,
visitant,
wraith

Words Related to spirit

lemures,
manes

4 spirits plural a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk

a hotel bar that's well stocked with spirits

Synonyms for spirit

Words Related to spirit

belt,
load,
nip,
peg
[British],
pop,
shooter,
shot,
slug,
snifter,
snort,
tot,
whet

ale,
beer,
brew,
brewage,
brewski
[slang],
home brew,
malt liquor,
microbrew,
mum,
nappy
[chiefly Scottish]

mead,
sake
(or saki),
wine

barley-bree
(also barley-broo)
[chiefly Scottish],
brandy,
gin,
liqueur,
mao-tai,
mescal,
schnapps,
tequila,
vodka,
whiskey
(or whisky)

Dutch courage

Antonyms for spirit

nonintoxicant

spirit

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms of spirit (Entry 2 of 2)

as in snatch, abscond (with)

Synonyms & Near Synonyms for spirit

hijack
(also highjack)

abduct,
kidnap

catch,
cop
[slang],
steal,
take

Antonyms & Near Antonyms for spirit

restore,
return

Frequently Asked Questions About spirit

How is the word spirit distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of spirit are courage, mettle, resolution, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

When might courage be a better fit than spirit?

While the synonyms courage and spirit are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When could mettle be used to replace spirit?

The words mettle and spirit can be used in similar contexts, but mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle