spirit 1 of 2

Definition of spiritnext
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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

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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
The trio, doing the interview from New York, covered such difficult topics of how much fun everyone is having in Italy, how the Olympic spirit is pervasive and, of course, how cuddly the mascots are. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026 Their spirit and competitiveness is really hard to match. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
Machado was spirited out of the country to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in December, and her team declined to comment on her current whereabouts. CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026 Residents, businesses and fans are invited to show their team spirit through generosity. Jake Allen, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spirit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirit
Noun
  • And while the name has changed and updates and expansions have been made over the decades, the soul and aesthetics of the original still come through.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
  • This expressive, effusive soul could finally use skating to effusively express her soul.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • By this point in their trip to Nepal, the pair was deep in reflective mode, learning and sharing all sorts of things about and with each other.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Both with features like adjustable suspension, multiple riding modes, heated grips and seats, and Pirelli tires.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Elytra Dark will serve as a transfer vehicle to bring the Blue ghost lander to the moon.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
  • It was originally supposed to be a story with more ghosts and such, but the real-world system the film presents was horror enough.
    Blake Simons, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Additional video evidence tracked the whereabouts of what authorities believe was the same car and individuals at a liquor store and elsewhere before the shooting.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
  • For Muslims, many of whom eschew alcohol, and for anyone seeking liquor-free or family-friendly social options, the cafes are hospitable hangouts and a late-night alternative to nighttime clubbing.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • About a year after a mass rape trial that captured global attention and galvanized a feminist movement in France, Gisèle Pelicot is stepping back into the public spotlight with the release of her deeply vulnerable memoir.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Dolls depicting diabetes, Down syndrome or physical disabilities do not and cannot capture every lived reality.
    Tiffany Hodges, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is an amalgam of Hollywood archetypes, the essence of a big-screen hero boiled down and maybe left on the stove too long.
    Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Each pad is soaked in a calming essence built around the brand’s proprietary Artemisia-Cica blend—a K-beauty-favorite pairing of artemisia (mugwort) and Centella asiatica.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • That would seem to drive some urgency among Democrats, but many are not in a compromising mood to provide more dollars to immigration enforcement.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The mood today was more tenuous, the industry crowd mulling in the lobby with cocktails, discussing the tail end of awards season and the controversy coming out of the Berlin Film Festival concerning politically cautious juror statements.
    Film Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Though the governor left little behind to solve the ultimate mystery — where the staircase led —a rare apparition surfaced from Roman Germany, preserved for 2,000 years due to the Romans’ advanced building techniques.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
  • And just as the questions are sinking into our souls, some mist starts to rise up from the floorboards of Tower 12 and turn itself into something like a human form, a specter, an apparition, a boy made real.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Spirit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirit. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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