spirited 1 of 2

adjective

ˈspir-ə-təd How to pronounce spirited (audio)
Definition of spiritednext
1
as in fiery
marked by a lively display of strong feeling the town meeting featured a spirited debate about the proposed ban on skateboarding in the plaza downtown

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lively
having much high-spirited energy and movement a team known for its spirited and in-your-face basketball

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spirited

2 of 2

verb

past tense of spirit
as in snatched

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 spirited
Adjective
The Egyptian star’s wish became reality just hours later, when Argentina outlasted a spirited Cape Verde side in extra time to set up a matchup against Egypt in the round of 16 in Atlanta at noon Tuesday. — Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 6 July 2026 And when Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte evened the score with a right footed shot from a difficult angle at the 59-minute mark, the stunned stadium went silent, minus two small spirited clots of Cape Verde fans in the East end zone seats. — Miami Herald, 4 July 2026 Orange-pineapple juice blends with sweet tea to make a spirited cocktail that will hit the spot on game day or a pool day. — Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 4 July 2026 Roberts doffed his cap in gratitude for a spirited postgame ovation from the fans here, almost all of them Dodgers fans. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spirited
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirited
  1. fiery
  2. lively
  3. snatched
  4. passionate
  5. energetic
  6. captured
  7. spunky
  8. animated
Adjective
  • New research, however, suggests our planet has a better chance of escaping that fiery end than previously thought.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 July 2026
  • That precocious talent combines with her naturally confident disposition to create one fiery competitor.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • Set the scene Morea House’s contemporary, angular facade faces right out onto the beach from where the lively V&A Waterfront is a 20-minute drive north, with Sea Point, another popular stretch of seafront, just 11 minutes away by car.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
  • Known for its sprawling waterfront cottages and lively social scene, Muskoka sets the stage as relationships, careers, and personal lives collide.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 July 2026
Definition of lively
Verb
  • Like Fritz said, Tiafoe snatched his NBA-style pants off in one motion.
    — Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Hope was dangled like a carrot, then cruelly snatched away, more than once.
    — Marissa Stapley, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of snatched
Adjective
  • Despite the full lineup and passionate patriotic crowd in Seattle, Team USA looked uncomfortable from the start, fell behind early, made sloppy mistakes and could not keep up with the Belgians, who move on to face Spain in the quarterfinals.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Mexico’s passionate fans blasted horns outside the England hotel to disrupt players’ sleep, and the start of the match was delayed an hour because of a thunderstorm.
    — Carlos Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026
Definition of passionate
Adjective
  • Even small toe-taps or a light head bob accompanies the least energetic.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
  • Adrian, creative and energetic from childhood on—and raised in the presence of movie cameras—became a filmmaker himself, fusing a passion for extreme skiing with his cinematic sensibility.
    — Marina Harss, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of energetic
Verb
  • The singer quickly zipped up his black trousers, but not before a fan captured a video of the wardrobe malfunction.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 8 July 2026
  • The collective spectacle captured a tension that Swift has long been charting through her music.
    — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of captured
Adjective
  • Zann eventually got a call from casting director Meredith Layne and a screenplay with lines that were instantly familiar from her time voicing Rogue, the spunky heroine whose touch can be deadly, in the ‘90s.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • The spunky comedy streaming service couldn’t hit the mainstream enough to attract voters, despite some very funny programming.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 July 2026
Definition of spunky
Adjective
  • The animated film, made with a budget between $150 million and $200 million, has earned upward of $763 million globally less than a month after its release.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The Rick and Morty world is one of the most involved animated series ever created and obviously takes up a lot of brain power to pull together.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Definition of animated

Browse Nearby Words

spirit (away or off)
spirited
spirited (away or off)
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Cite this Entry

“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirited. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of spirited for Spanish Speakers

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