spirit 1 of 2

1
as in soul
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 & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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spirit

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

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

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

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

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 spirit
Noun
But Hosoda’s expressionism virtually disappears thereafter, and a dry sense of order exerts itself once the story is spirited back towards Elsinore. Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025 This time around, Columbus was spirited and supercharged, took control early, and never looked back while cruising to a 21-15 win to force the deciding match late Sunday afternoon. Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
In Seychellois folklore, it was said to hold the feminine spirit of the earth, fertility embodied in botanical form. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 Oct. 2025 That multigenerational spirit extends far beyond the Frank family. Abby Price, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spirit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirit
Noun
  • Ameer is just a brilliant observer and storyteller, a very old and wise soul in a young man’s body.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
  • What was once anima, a spirit or soul, became techne, a resource.
    Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Admirers can switch between nine lighting modes, including warm white and multicolor hues, as well as flickering and flashing light shows.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Our job is to get those customers into adoption mode.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Families are turning dinner into an activity by using pizza dough or premade crusts to mold fun, spooky shapes, like ghosts, pumpkins, and bats, before topping them with sauce, cheese, and all their favorite fixings.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The Chicago Tribune reported that the empty lot where Gacy's house once stood became a tourist attraction for true crime fans and ghost hunters in the 1980s.
    Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The bar received a 60-day suspension of its liquor license after the shooting.
    Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The liquor store is situated at the corner of Lancaster Avenue and Sterley Street, and the house is number 17 Spruce Street.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The chimney, a symbol of the site’s industrial heritage, now functions as an intake for external air captured at 60 meters, which is then circulated through the bioclimatic greenhouse on the south facade, which Ruffini highlighted, and that helps to regulate internal temperatures.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Denim street style at Paris Fashion Week captured the free-spirited, anything-goes vibe of recent collections—empowering consumers to experiment with their denim looks on a whim.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But perhaps its essence is best told by its most famous resident.
    Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
  • This is the essence of the palpable belief in the vampire.
    Robert Eggers, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The tumult of the window and the team’s start to the season exacerbated the mood.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • From chocolate brown for a subtle upgrade to neutrals, to burgundy and olive green for an instant pop of color, there’s a shade (or two…or eight) for every mood and itinerary.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • These days, Maurice is said to appear as an apparition on the 14th floor.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
  • In Good Boy, Indy investigates strange noises and ghostly apparitions in the remote country house.
    Laura Martin, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spirit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirit. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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