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
But starting carries some cache, and there will be a spirited competition between Blount (who’s superior to Lightfoot as a run defender) and Lightfoot (a highly skilled pass rusher who’s better as a run defender than his light frame might suggest). — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026 In canvas, raffia, or even terry cloth, the striped styles of the season add a spirited touch to any look. — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 21 July 2026 Second-year point guard Kaitlyn Chen gave the Valkyries a huge spark off the bench to ignite a spirited scoring attack in the second half. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 21 July 2026 The reason this keeps happening—the reason populist movements don’t elevate public-spirited masters of statecraft—is that populism is all about rejecting elite expertise. — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 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
  • Admired for their striking beauty, the fiery blossoms of the peacock flower have long captured the attention of people across the Atlantic world.
    — Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2026
  • The testimony followed years of fiery disputes between Paul and Fauci — both medical doctors — over the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of the virus that caused it.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 July 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • Players have long complained about less-lively balls that force them to swing harder to hit them through the court.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • The pilot sets up interesting tensions between Duke and surrogate father Kingsley and a livelier adversarial role for Pinnock, but Kingsley is gone for the majority of the six episodes (out of eight) sent to critics and Pinnock’s absence is felt.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Definition of lively
Verb
  • Up in Chicago, rival United — which has been duking it out with American at O’Hare International Airport — snatched up delivery slots for more than 100 Boeing Dreamliners in the last four years.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 19 July 2026
  • Malonga scored 28 points and snatched a game-high 14 rebounds.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of snatched
Adjective
  • Competing in his home country of Canada against top heel champion MJF with a passionate crowd behind him felt like the perfect setting.
    — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Later, their tentative friendship turns into something more passionate — to the dismay of eavesdropping Asla, who realizes she is not the party Helge’s charm was aimed at.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of passionate
Adjective
  • Bergé—still blustery and energetic at sixty-eight—flanks Saint Laurent protectively as the two leave their hotel for the ceremony, where the designer is set to receive a lifetime-achievement award.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • As a rookie last season, Watkins established himself as one of the Wizards’ most energetic and physical perimeter defenders.
    — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of energetic
Verb
  • Mbaye, Yassine and Toure are three of five players at the World Cup who had full profiles on the platform, having been captured on film since the age of 14 in their home countries.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • After the Mac has been cleaned, change its login password because CrashStealer may have captured and validated that credential.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of captured
Adjective
  • The group consists of levelheaded leader Blossom, sweet-natured Bubbles, and spunky Buttercup.
    — Oliver Gettell, Entertainment Weekly, 26 July 2026
  • As for her birth story, Lockwood says her smart and spunky 5-year-old daughter knows it all.
    — Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of spunky
Adjective
  • In Thursday’s announcement, Canal+ highlighted that the new deal would also see a strengthening of its support for new filmmakers and new styles of filmmaking; debut films and emerging talent; diversity film and animated films.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 July 2026
  • Although animated sequels have majorly rebounded at the box office, original fare remains challenged.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 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 2 Aug. 2026.

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