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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spirited
Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Both of these claims have been the topic of spirited debate in the endurance world over the last few years, and those debates will continue—but the case in favor of baking soda just got a little stronger.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 25 Feb. 2026
The steering, though somewhat isolated due to the car’s grand-touring disposition, feels communicative enough to enable and encourage rather spirited cornering.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Do Grand Cherokee owners go on spirited drives?
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Adjective
The Lincoln Avenue legend was known for his spirited community involvement and for making thousands of his signature Chris Combo sandwiches over the years for South Bay customers, including the San Jose Sharks and San Francisco 49ers teams.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Both of these claims have been the topic of spirited debate in the endurance world over the last few years, and those debates will continue—but the case in favor of baking soda just got a little stronger.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 25 Feb. 2026
The steering, though somewhat isolated due to the car’s grand-touring disposition, feels communicative enough to enable and encourage rather spirited cornering.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Do Grand Cherokee owners go on spirited drives?
—Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirited
Adjective
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During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Blonde ambition, but be a fiery redhead and add a dash of alien glamour.—
Mykenna Maniece,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Locals consistently rave about FIG and Leon’s Oyster Shop, though wandering around aimlessly—especially on the city’s lively King Street—is part of the fun, too.—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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Anecdotally, schools with bell-to-bell bans report livelier lunchtime conversations, and some research suggests that time and distance are critical for counteracting phones’ addictive tendencies.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trump has been warning of the Cuban government’s downfall since his administration struck Venezuela and snatched Maduro in a secret raid on his compound.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
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The former is now in shackles in a New York detention facility after being snatched from Caracas by US special forces in an extraordinary overnight raid.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Companies like Acorn, which specializes in British TV, and Crunchyroll, devoted to anime, had built real businesses on niches with passionate fans.—
Lucas Shaw,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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Was there one among you all that was kind of most passionate about getting this record done?—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Buffey is described as an energetic and dedicated special education teacher who brings enthusiasm and creativity to every lesson.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
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The deployment of Lewis O’Brien and Ollie Rathbone, playing as an energetic pair of No 10s behind the equally-mobile Sam Smith up front suited this intent wonderfully.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Astronomers captured the most detailed image yet of our galaxy’s center.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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The observation team, led by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, captured two additional measurements that proved key to improving the orbit estimate.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While Robbie’s Cathy is spunky, stubborn, and independent, Elordi’s Heathcliff is brooding, desperate, and clingy.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
12 Feb. 2026
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The movie, released in May 1999, saw Fraser as treasure hunter who travels to Egypt in the 1920s with a spunky librarian, played by Weisz, only to accidentally awaken a supernaturally powerful high priest.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The animated series is run by Brad Walsh and Paul Corrigan, who ran the live-action series with me.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Mar. 2026
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That call will depend on your kid's maturity level and tolerance for animated violence.—
Alex Shoemaker,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirited. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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