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
The other central characters fare better, especially Gotay’s moving Homer and Miller’s spunky scribe, but also McAlpine and Mark Kudisch as Floyd’s dad.
—
Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
Hummingbirds are a fan favorite of avid bird watchers due to their spunky personalities and impressive flying tricks (flying upside-down and backward!).
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025
Trawling through the bowels of the luxury resort, the prez has some allies with her (Manny, the Chinese First Lady, the spunky head of the International Monetary Fund) and some duds (Douglas Hodge as the British Prime Minister, cast here as a moron with some wonderful comic relief).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the rebellious young Jim Hopper, the son of the town police chief, can’t seem to do anything right; the spunky Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and leave town, stat (but still has a thing for bad boys); and the tech nerd Bob is hopelessly in love with her.
—Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunky
Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
Hummingbirds are a fan favorite of avid bird watchers due to their spunky personalities and impressive flying tricks (flying upside-down and backward!).
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025
Trawling through the bowels of the luxury resort, the prez has some allies with her (Manny, the Chinese First Lady, the spunky head of the International Monetary Fund) and some duds (Douglas Hodge as the British Prime Minister, cast here as a moron with some wonderful comic relief).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the rebellious young Jim Hopper, the son of the town police chief, can’t seem to do anything right; the spunky Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and leave town, stat (but still has a thing for bad boys); and the tech nerd Bob is hopelessly in love with her.
—Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spunky
Adjective
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Her quirky sense of humor and passion for her career align with the zodiac sign Aries, whose fiery spirit can relate.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
11 May 2025
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The fiery collision involved a tour bus and a Nissan SUV.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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The rest of our stay here felt equal parts sentimental and sophisticated—pie-making sessions came with hard cider tastings; a spirited host recited dad jokes alongside chocolate and whiskey pairings; and movie nights in the barn were fueled by vintage candy and cocktails.—
Alisha Prakash,
Travel + Leisure,
11 May 2025
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Amber, who sculpts portraitures and takes care of their sick mom; Delia, who manages an apple farm where Charlie hides out; Bebe, who’s a free spirited DJ; and Cece, who’s a comparative lit professor.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Gabriella is a cousin of King Charles through her father Prince Michael's side of the family and a passionate musician who played an advisory role around the musical performances for Kate's Together at Christmas carol service in December at Westminster Abbey.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
19 May 2025
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It’s been possible, but hard to find Fettercairn from independent bottlers in the United States, and those who seek it out are passionate about it, Boice said.—
Gina Pace,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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With a balsamic glaze, a little parm, and peppery arugula, this meal is light and fresh while maintaining top-tier flavor.—
Erin Hooker,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Feb. 2025
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The result is a harmonious interplay of flavors, where hints of caramel and vanilla intertwine with peppery rye and a subtle malty backbone, all culminating in a smooth, 100-proof finish.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The chippies, pubs and merchandise stalls on Goodison Road are doing brisk business, as fans arrive extra early to soak up precious last memories.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
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Adames began jogging around the bases, but his trot soon slowed into a brisk walk.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunky. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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