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
Relevance
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
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
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Emilia—led by Greg Vernick, the James Beard Award–winning chef behind Vernick Food & Drink and Vernick Fish at the Four Seasons—is a trattoria-spirited Italian spot where chef de cuisine Meri Medoway oversees a menu of handmade, seasonal pastas.
—Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
As De Gaulle and Bonnier de La Chapelle, respectively, actors Simon Abkarian and Florian Lesieur give spirited and physical performances, cleverly juxtaposing the dissimilar qualities of the two central figures of the story who otherwise share ideals.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026
The love story — spirited and wrenching — begins with the meet-cute in a Los Angeles high school of introverted skateboarder AJ and gutsy surfer Kristen.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Adjective
Channeling his inner Jameson, a spirited Simmons then motioned for Spider-Man to get tossed from the game.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Emilia—led by Greg Vernick, the James Beard Award–winning chef behind Vernick Food & Drink and Vernick Fish at the Four Seasons—is a trattoria-spirited Italian spot where chef de cuisine Meri Medoway oversees a menu of handmade, seasonal pastas.
—Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
As De Gaulle and Bonnier de La Chapelle, respectively, actors Simon Abkarian and Florian Lesieur give spirited and physical performances, cleverly juxtaposing the dissimilar qualities of the two central figures of the story who otherwise share ideals.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026
The love story — spirited and wrenching — begins with the meet-cute in a Los Angeles high school of introverted skateboarder AJ and gutsy surfer Kristen.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirited
Adjective
-
And Mullin, a 48-year-old former Republican senator from Oklahoma and former mixed martial arts fighter, is also known for fiery exchanges with congressional committees, once challenging a Teamsters leader during a 2023 hearing.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
With first-round pick Caleb Downs expected to lock down the nickel cornerback spot, the competition will be fiery for the other two spots.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Fairmont draws a diverse crowd—from business travelers to couples celebrating anniversaries, to casual visitors—creating a lively but laid-back atmosphere.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
-
The blueberry layer brings deep sweetness and vibrant color, while Meyer lemon adds a floral brightness that keeps the parfaits tasting fresh and lively.—
Laura Mclively,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Varley then threw three cups of water and ice at the employee, snatched his nametag off his suit jacket and broke four glasses by dropping them on the floor, according to what staff told police in the affidavit.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2026
-
After Trevino got the cash, South snatched the marijuana quickly from him.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
Bonner brought the bull market with him to CSUF, bringing his pressing, pestering and passionate style of play to a fanbase starved for success.—
Brian Robin,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
-
Madison Square Garden is set to be filled to the brim Monday night with passionate Knicks fans decked out in their orange and blue pride, but eyes may be on what two of the most powerful New Yorkers will be doing during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Gamma rays are the most energetic form of light, and they are produced by some of the universe’s most extreme phenomena.—
Christopher Karwin,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
-
The festive, charming and energetic North American tour of the Broadway production is packed with as much nostalgia as new characters that are doppelgangers for the original series’ heroes and villains, and who often challenge our assumptions about their infamous families.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Yung-Shin Kung said that CTAs had captured the rally in precious metals, primarily silver and gold, at the beginning of the year, before switching to industrial metals that are poised to benefit from AI infrastructure investment and supply constraints caused by the Iran war.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
But generally speaking, did this seem like a concept album to you that was being captured?—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Field plays Tova Sullivan, a widowed, allegedly elderly woman who, because she is inhabited by the still-spunky actress, never quite seems elderly enough.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2026
-
Stanford was credited with a 5-0 victory over Pepperdine in the quarterfinals and 5-0 victory over spunky Eastern Michigan in the semifinal.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
In recent years, Hollywood decided adult comedies were not good bets in movie theaters, and instead focused heavily on superheroes and animated films.—
Rodney Ho,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026
-
Toons boom across the Croisette this year, with colorful features opening Critics’ Week, closing Directors’ Fortnight, and appearing across nearly every section — further cementing Cannes’ status as a premier launchpad for animated cinema.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirited. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
