as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a panel of political pundits with a well-earned reputation for unfettered feistiness
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Recent Examples of feistiness
Mangiapane’s feistiness is something the group can learn from, now that the 29-year-old is suddenly a veteran in the locker room.
—
Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Throughout, Zelensky has shown a feistiness that Bartosz Cichocki, Poland’s ambassador to Kyiv during the Russian invasion, believes likely comes from his childhood in one of the poorest parts of what was then the Soviet Union.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Drescher brought greater visibility and idiosyncratic feistiness to SAG-AFTRA, but can that momentum be sustained?
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
Simeone will have to find ways to replace De Paul’s feistiness in midfield, Lino’s strong wing play, and Correa’s tenacity off the bench.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Throughout, Zelensky has shown a feistiness that Bartosz Cichocki, Poland’s ambassador to Kyiv during the Russian invasion, believes likely comes from his childhood in one of the poorest parts of what was then the Soviet Union.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Drescher brought greater visibility and idiosyncratic feistiness to SAG-AFTRA, but can that momentum be sustained?
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
Simeone will have to find ways to replace De Paul’s feistiness in midfield, Lino’s strong wing play, and Correa’s tenacity off the bench.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feistiness
Noun
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These differences were stronger in young people with more behavior problems that are shown outwardly, such as aggression, frequent anger, irritability, and refusing to follow rules.—
Crista Marchesseault,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
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Taipei, Taiwan — In the face of growing Chinese military aggression, Taiwan has increased defense spending, extended mandatory conscription and revamped its combat exercises, signaling its determination to fight off a potential invasion.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Colorado’s aggressiveness with trading away draft picks and prospects to help the NHL club’s pursuit of a Stanley Cup has often left the organization’s pipeline thin, but also provides opportunities for undrafted players like Logan O’Connor and Sam Malinski to earn chances and thrive.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Frost have played well with aggressiveness and their speed on the ice all season.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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According to the Indivisible site, what began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy.—
Gina Grillo,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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And an underdog who stayed in the contest in defiance of steep odds and, seemingly, common sense.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Their defensive style can look like arrogance or hostility.—
Paul Sanchez Ruiz,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
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Out of such poverty comes hatred, resentment and a desire for revenge, and this cycle of hostility can continue for years.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Trump had won by fifty-three points there in 2016, and Greene’s paranoid pugnacity seemed like a good fit, if voters could stomach an outsider.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
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That does not mean his pugnacity has dimmed.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Feistiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feistiness. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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