as in lively
having much high-spirited energy and movement
a sprightly child who often claims to be too tired to move when it's time to do chores
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in playfully
in a quick and spirited manner
every morning the elderly couple sprightly sets out on a walk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sprightly
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Plus, nearby, do check out the Nice Pam Hotel as well—a more youthful and modern offering designed in sprightly shades of pastels.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 June 2025
Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Likewise, the airy comedy (boosted by Thomas Newman’s sprightly if familiar-sounding score) insists on the seeming incongruity between the film’s lovely setting and its darker subject matter.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprightly
Adjective
Eventually, the movement realized that using the old instruments in sprightly, imaginative and contemporary ways instead made the music sound newly vital, and even more so when the staging was startlingly up to date.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Plus, nearby, do check out the Nice Pam Hotel as well—a more youthful and modern offering designed in sprightly shades of pastels.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 June 2025
Adverb
Rice was playing at an All-Pro level last year before suffering a torn ACL, second-year receiver Xavier Worthy is always improving and even tight end Travis Kelce is appearing more sprightly than last campaign.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Likewise, the airy comedy (boosted by Thomas Newman’s sprightly if familiar-sounding score) insists on the seeming incongruity between the film’s lovely setting and its darker subject matter.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprightly
Adjective
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My appetite for more Lee is low, but Harjo’s Tulsa — cynical and lively at the same time — simmers with more to say.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Lomax not only wrote the song but also stars in the commercial, which portrays him enjoying the Biggie Bag combo meal, a scene that turns into a lively celebration of music and food.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Raja’s energetic narration is relentlessly funny, even (or especially) when it’s turned to dark or disturbing events from his past.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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But Isaacman has also garnered broad support within the commercial space industry, where he’s perceived as an energetic outsider ready to usher NASA into a new era.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But, because animated films can take a long time to complete, the movie isn’t expected to release until 2029.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
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Awards were given out across 33 categories, with winners in the narrative, documentary, and animated shorts categories achieving Oscar eligibility.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The company’s brisk activity shows no signs of slowing.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
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Trick-or-treaters can expect brisk but dry weather.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Highly active world Enceladus is a highly active world, with a global, salty sub-surface ocean, believed to be the source of its heat.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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During inquiries, the ICO found 178 active email accounts using passwords identical or similar to those set by the organization’s IT desk when the account was activated.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In his work, everything is animate, everything has a soul, everything has a story.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
8 Oct. 2025
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In his account of an Essex owl evening, all senses seem to merge, and all distinction between animate and inanimate disappears.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprightly. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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