as in fiery
marked by a lively display of strong feeling
a spunky determination to make the best of a bad situation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spunky
One More Time saw a fusion of the rock legends’ classic sound and Harrison’s spunky spirit.
—
Thomas Smith, Billboard, 15 Dec. 2025
With some inventive traps and a spunky attitude, Kevin manages to defend his family's dwelling with hilarious results.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Pixie One extreme begets another, so while some may opt for waist-length hair, others might find something just as magical in a spunky, textured crop.
—Loren Savini, Allure, 4 Dec. 2025
The movie saw Fraser as treasure hunter who travels to Egypt in the 1920s with a spunky librarian, played by Weisz, only to accidentally awaken a supernaturally powerful high priest.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunky
Thomas Smith, Billboard, 15 Dec. 2025
With some inventive traps and a spunky attitude, Kevin manages to defend his family's dwelling with hilarious results.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Pixie One extreme begets another, so while some may opt for waist-length hair, others might find something just as magical in a spunky, textured crop.
—Loren Savini, Allure, 4 Dec. 2025
The movie saw Fraser as treasure hunter who travels to Egypt in the 1920s with a spunky librarian, played by Weisz, only to accidentally awaken a supernaturally powerful high priest.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spunky
Adjective
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As one of Cohen's most frequent guests on his late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live, Rapaport has generated some of its most viral and debated moments, like a fiery 2018 spat between the actor and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Jan. 2026
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Nature—and its subtlest micro-shifts—are the main protagonists, from the green humidity of summer, the sound of cicadas ringing thick in the air to the fiery blaze of autumn leaves (courtesy of approximately 3,000 Japanese maple trees) and the fresh cloud-like bursts of springtime sakura.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Suffice it to say our dinners were high-spirited affairs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
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One night after the Texas men let one get away in a home loss to the men from College Station, the ladies turned the tables and got things back on track before a spirited Moody crowd.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Kepner is passionate about accountability and service journalism and encourages anyone to reach out to her to tell their story or share a tip.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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Most importantly of all, the goal of an actor is to share it, have people see it and have strong, passionate feelings about it — good and sometimes bad.—
Scarlett Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Creole seasoning adds peppery heat to keep this soup vibrant, along with apple cider vinegar which helps to balance the saltiness of the sausage and seasoning.—
Erin Merhar,
Southern Living,
6 Jan. 2026
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Fast growing and hardy, arugula microgreens mature in 10 days and stand out for their delightful, peppery flavor.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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At Glenlaurel Inn & Spa nearby, inventive food and plush cabins balance brisk hikes for a perfectly woodsy winter getaway.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
7 Jan. 2026
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The show has been doing brisk business, with the most recent box office figures (for the Broadway week ending January 4) reporting attendance at 96% of the venue’s capacity.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunky. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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