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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spirited
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Hawkers hitched boxes higher and nudged each other to behold the spirited pregnant woman.
—‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
But Snelling’s recent dominance has made that topic a spirited discussion inside the team’s front office.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
Spirit Airlines was known for some spirited interactions involving passengers over the years, but some longtime customers are painting a different portrait of the ultra-low cost carrier following its shuttering over the weekend.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Adjective
Middle of Nowhere is a spirited, if depressed, reaffirmation of Musgraves’s foundations.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Hawkers hitched boxes higher and nudged each other to behold the spirited pregnant woman.
—‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
But Snelling’s recent dominance has made that topic a spirited discussion inside the team’s front office.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
Spirit Airlines was known for some spirited interactions involving passengers over the years, but some longtime customers are painting a different portrait of the ultra-low cost carrier following its shuttering over the weekend.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirited
Adjective
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And that fiery, vibrant red that fades after mere weeks?—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
14 May 2026
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The fiery collision was one of America’s deadliest drunken driving crashes on record.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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The lively restaurant, a tribute to British photographer and tastemaker Cecil Beaton, strikes a delicate balance between elegance and whimsy.—
Julie Tremaine,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
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Created by Liz Heldens (Will Trent) and Matt Ward (Best Medicine), and set to kick off production in Los Angeles this year, the new series follows Heidi (Banks), who while fresh off a messy divorce, sets out to secure a lively second act for herself and her kids.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The film has generated the kind of heat that has been missing elsewhere in the Marché this week, and a deal for domestic rights is all but certain (there are rumors A24 has already snatched it up).—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
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The vehicles were snatched for being unregistered, uninsured, or having fake or altered license plates, according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Set in Los Angeles, the film follows AJ, a shy teenager who loves skateboarding and drawing, and Kristen, a passionate surfer.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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Much of the film is set in and around a Parisian elder-care facility, and Hamaguchi guides us through its rooms and hallways, its meetings and rituals, with a patience and passionate granularity worthy of the late documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Little Caesars Arena was as energetic as its been all season, and Detroit didn’t deliver, sending Pistons fans for an early exit.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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For a night out, head to local landmark Pam Pam, a fish-out-of-water Brazilian bar with tiki drinks, dance shows, live music, and an energetic atmosphere.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2026
Verb
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No candidate has polled higher than 20-some percent — a testament to how many are in the running, but also an indication that none of them has truly captured the zeitgeist of today’s California.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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Any natural satellites of Psyche could’ve been ejected from the body by ancient impacts—or might’ve even been captured from deep space by chance encounters as the asteroid drifted through the solar system.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Stressing the omnipresent influence of the Portuguese colonizers, chorizo cooks with red kidney beans and black-eyed peas in a spunky chile-vinegar tomato sauce in a Goan adaptation of Brazilian feijoada.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
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The Boroughs follows a group of spunky people living in an upscale retirement community.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Diesel, Moritz and Morgan also executive produce an animated Fast & Furious series set at Netflix from DreamWorks Animation.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
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Lion Forge Entertainment develops and produces animated and live-action content targeting kids and family, YA and adult audiences.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirited. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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