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
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
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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Throughout an offseason devoted to expansive training, that spirit was on full display — including during the lively knockout games at Prentiss’ gym.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Discussions about the fast-changing international TV distribution market are ten-a-penny at industry conferences, but the group made a lively and worthwhile contribution to the pantheon.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Alvarado has become Colombia's most energetic proponent of the technique.—
John Otis,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
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Patterson is energetic and fun here.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Riegel agrees, noting that the show doesn’t just settle into the tone of a typical animated series, in Critical Role’s style or otherwise.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
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Those episodes were made with the company's proprietary AI engine, fine-tuned for animated storytelling.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Vasilas attributes the brisk business to not having a lot of competition for the kind of service Ted’s Clothiers offers.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
24 Sep. 2025
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Leisurely walking, especially for short distances, may not be enough to get the full potential benefit compared with walking longer distances at a brisker pace.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The clock change allows the hour of daylight to stay coordinated with the time most people are active outside.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Bohm, who wasn’t active for that matchup, drew a leadoff walk to start the second inning by waiting on a full-count fastball.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Royster recalled her animate Catholic teachings and love of Pope Francis’s vision for the church and the prophetic role to hold the government accountable.—
Olivia Cyrus,
Sacbee.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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If the story is slight, the development of the characters through the songs’ lyrics and the performances of them animate and elevate the proceedings.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprightly. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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