spunky

adjective

ˈspəŋ-kē How to pronounce spunky (audio)
Definition of spunkynext
as in spirited
marked by a lively display of strong feeling a spunky determination to make the best of a bad situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 spunky 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 Maki is spunky and more tomboy-ish, while Omura is the more straightlaced and serious of the two. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 7 July 2026 Jonny DeLuca hit a two-run homer with one out in the seventh inning, as the Rays rallied for a 4-3 win and a series victory over a spunky Nationals team. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026 Nothing freshens up a spunky short haircut like fringe. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for spunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spunky
  1. spirited
  2. fiery
  3. passionate
  4. peppery
  5. brisk
Adjective
  • Jacinta, meanwhile, brings the spirited, colorful energy of contemporary Mexican cooking with an array of tacos, tostadas, tamales, and traditional techniques.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
  • From this spirited competition emerged two progenitors of modern horror, science fiction, and fantasy.
    — Maria Papadouris, JSTOR Daily, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of spirited
Adjective
  • Hundreds of people in Toledo, Ohio, remain evacuated from their homes as officials work to resolve a fiery chemical leak that began Tuesday.
    — Lana Zak, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Here was the humble trade unionist, born into extreme poverty, standing up as a fiery-eyed tribune of the workers.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • The colors are dour and muted, and the yearnings of the two elder Dashwood sisters—the self-abnegating Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and the passionate Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles, a gimlet-eyed standout)—often play out in drearily candlelit rooms.
    — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Bulgari staff is notably passionate about this garden and volunteers there on a regular basis.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of passionate
Adjective
  • Ida Mae Cullen, the peppery widow of poet Countee Cullen, pipes up to remind the group, vigorously, that the Harlem Renaissance really lasted for just one decade, the 1920s, though its ripples began years before and resonated for decades after.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • His pastrami is flavored with the earthy, peppery hallmarks of ras el hanout, while the brisket eats like low-and-slow Texas barbecue, but with the sweet and savory notes of a traditional Ashkenazi brisket recipe.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of peppery
Adjective
  • Most dogs benefit from two brisk daily walks of 20-30 minutes.
    — Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Los Javis, working with editor Alberto Gutiérrez, keep things moving, and the film’s two-and-a-half-hour running time moves at a surprisingly brisk pace.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of brisk

Browse Nearby Words

spunkiness
spunky
spur
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Cite this Entry

“Spunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunky. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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