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
However, the keyboard is a bit cramped, the touchpad is too small, and the battery likely won't get you through a full day of spirited work on a charge.
—
Mark Coppock, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
The Golden State Valkyries finished the greatest season from an expansion team in league history, shattering attendance records and making a spirited playoff push that galvanized the fan base.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
The conversations were spirited and robust but hardly rancorous.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Her high-spirited wingman, a Bulgarian named Slavko, was drinking beer out of a plastic cup at eleven o’clock in the morning.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
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Mark Coppock, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
The Golden State Valkyries finished the greatest season from an expansion team in league history, shattering attendance records and making a spirited playoff push that galvanized the fan base.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
The conversations were spirited and robust but hardly rancorous.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Her high-spirited wingman, a Bulgarian named Slavko, was drinking beer out of a plastic cup at eleven o’clock in the morning.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 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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