as in lively
having much high-spirited energy and movement
a sprightly child who often claims to be too tired to move when it's time to do chores
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in playfully
in a quick and spirited manner
every morning the elderly couple sprightly sets out on a walk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sprightly
Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Pick from an assortment of delicious recipes doled out by a roster of sprightly locals, from apple strudel to Sacher-style chocolate gâteaux.
—Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Nov. 2025
Rice was playing at an All-Pro level last year before suffering a torn ACL, second-year receiver Xavier Worthy is always improving and even tight end Travis Kelce is appearing more sprightly than last campaign.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprightly
Adjective
Johnson, a sprightly man with a bright Midwestern accent, wore a hat with the logo of his employer, the U.S. Geological Survey, which conducts much of the G.L.F.C.’s research.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Pick from an assortment of delicious recipes doled out by a roster of sprightly locals, from apple strudel to Sacher-style chocolate gâteaux.
—Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025
Adverb
Hours before the awards ceremony, the veteran exec is still sprightly trodding the labyrinthine corridors of the festival home of the International Theatre Amsterdam.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Nov. 2025
Rice was playing at an All-Pro level last year before suffering a torn ACL, second-year receiver Xavier Worthy is always improving and even tight end Travis Kelce is appearing more sprightly than last campaign.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprightly
Adjective
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But smart casting, witty writing, lively directing, and artful character development have also yielded the rare superhero riff that, as Kovak puts it, finds the human underneath.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
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For 30 minutes, the producers mostly paint with a warm, lively palette, whisking fragments of IDM, ghettotech, and house into a hypnotic swirl.—
Rae-Aila Crumble,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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His interests reflect both his creativity and his energetic spirit.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
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Some 35 times more energetic than any neutrino seen before, the particle might have shot out from a highly active galaxy — a blazar — or a background source of cosmogenic high-energy particles that scientists suspect pervade the cosmos.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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During the trial, many of Cardi's impassioned exchanges with the Janfaza went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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Tang joined Adult Swim in 2012 and contributed to the development of numerous live‑action and animated originals including Joe Pera Talks with You, Royal Crackers, The Eric Andre Show, and the WGA Award-winning Three Busy Debras.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Faber and Rivera’s fight will be the main event for a brisk night of fights.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Ringing piano eighths gallop at a brisk mid-tempo, while percussive hits ring out in the distance.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Three of the court’s 11 active judges would have granted rehearing, and one dissent is expected to be published at a later date.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
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Their departure from active group work would leave a void that few current girl groups are positioned to fill, if any.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The same traits—sloppy reasoning but a desire for collective punishment—animate other immigration-policy announcements.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2026
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From lanterns several stories tall and hundreds of feet long to interactive exhibits that animate and breathe fire (in the form of smoke, Lewis clarifies), the festival evokes a deep sense of awe.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprightly. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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