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 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 Drinks—both spirited and alcohol-free—featuring ingredients like coconut milk, dairy or nut milks, fruit purées, and honey are especially froth-friendly. — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 17 July 2026 The question of who actually lives in the district sparked some of the most spirited back and forth. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2026 Clayton McCullough did strong work in Miami last season, and the club continues to play spirited baseball under his leadership. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 17 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
  • Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco kicked off Thursday’s press conference with a strongly fiery rebuttal of the cut as well as a promise to challenge it in the courts.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 July 2026
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators at a fiery hearing this week that the Pentagon is running short of cash, despite a massive $150 billion one-time allotment in last year's big budget bill.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • The three-deck sphere (hence, the name sphere class) at the heart of the ship is a lively social hub.
    — Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
  • Stone-Robb pointed to its cliffs, ocean views, surf breaks, walkable streets, and a lively central market as the likely cause of its popularity, noting that home prices here run lower than in nearby Cascais despite a similar coastal appeal.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 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
  • That Beyoncé slot came off the back of a firm but passionate letter Nia wrote to protest the lack of a dance-music category at the UK’s MOBO awards.
    — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
  • This success contrasts sharply with the struggling Mets, despite both being NYC franchises with passionate fans.
    — Robert Reiss, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of passionate
Adjective
  • Munda, 19, has intermittently trained with the seniors over the past couple of seasons and the energetic midfielder is primed for a loan move in the new season.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • In his view, our cognition, mood, and conscious experience reflect deeper energetic processes — down to the subcellular level.
    — Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 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
  • 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
  • Liam got started in Hollywood as a young actor and has voiced animated characters in films such as Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) and GOAT (2026).
    — Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
  • The three episodes of this outstanding series that were made available cements the claim that some of the most creative animated storytelling is being generated from anime.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 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 25 Jul. 2026.

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