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".
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
And at this particular moment in time, there's a lot of spirited debate in the industry over how much of the process any one company should control.
—
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 June 2025
A far cry from the spirited debates witnessed in some legislative bodies, the Parliament’s committee meetings are scripted affairs with a set order.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
The show, for kids aged 5-to-8-years-old, follows the titular Pil, a spirited girl from the medieval town of Foggyborough.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 4 June 2025
In a deconsecrated church on Market Street that Saturday, a spirited debate was taking place between two Democratic candidates for governor.
—Deborah Baker
june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
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Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 June 2025
A far cry from the spirited debates witnessed in some legislative bodies, the Parliament’s committee meetings are scripted affairs with a set order.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
The show, for kids aged 5-to-8-years-old, follows the titular Pil, a spirited girl from the medieval town of Foggyborough.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 4 June 2025
In a deconsecrated church on Market Street that Saturday, a spirited debate was taking place between two Democratic candidates for governor.
—Deborah Baker
june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 19 Jun. 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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