spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ə-təd 
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
spiritedness
noun
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You may see spirited used to describe a conversation, a debate, a horse, or a campaign. And it often shows up in such words as high-spirited ("bold and energetic"), mean-spirited ("spiteful"), and public-spirited ("generous to a community"), all of which reflect the original meaning of spirit, a notion much like "soul" or "personality".
Synonyms
Examples of spirited in a Sentence
The team put up a spirited defense.
She's a very spirited young lady.
Recent Examples on the Web
Across all sports, every new class in their respective Hall of Fame brings about spirited debate.
—
Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 3 Feb. 2025
Starring Olivia Colman as Frances’ warm mother Hannah, and John Lithgow as their spirited gay grandfather, the titular Jimpa, the film represents multiple generations of the LGBTQ community through an authentic and empathetic perspective.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Feb. 2025
But the evening maintained a spirited vibe even with the harsh realities of upended lives as part of the backdrop.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025
The Jack Russell terrier is a small, lively breed known for its spirited and playful nature.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spirited 
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Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 3 Feb. 2025
Starring Olivia Colman as Frances’ warm mother Hannah, and John Lithgow as their spirited gay grandfather, the titular Jimpa, the film represents multiple generations of the LGBTQ community through an authentic and empathetic perspective.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Feb. 2025
But the evening maintained a spirited vibe even with the harsh realities of upended lives as part of the backdrop.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025
The Jack Russell terrier is a small, lively breed known for its spirited and playful nature.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spirited
Dictionary Entries Near spirited
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ət-əd
: full of courage or energy
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
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