SPRIGHTLY Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'sprightly' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sprightly are animated , gay , lively , and vivacious . While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit. // a tuneful, sprightly musical

Q: When might 'animated' be a better fit than 'sprightly'?

In some situations, the words animated and sprightly are roughly equivalent. However, animated applies to what is spirited and active. // an animated discussion of current events

Q: When is it sensible to use 'gay' instead of 'sprightly'?

The meanings of gay and sprightly largely overlap; however, gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits. // the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Q: Where would 'lively' be a reasonable alternative to 'sprightly'?

While the synonyms lively and sprightly are close in meaning, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy. // a lively debate on the issues

Q: When is 'vivacious' a more appropriate choice than 'sprightly'?

Although the words vivacious and sprightly have much in common, vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring. // a vivacious party host

sprightly 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsprīt-lē

Definition of sprightly

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sprightly

2 of 2

adverb

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

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How does the adjective sprightly contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sprightly are animated, gay, lively, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

When might animated be a better fit than sprightly?

In some situations, the words animated and sprightly are roughly equivalent. However, animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

When is it sensible to use gay instead of sprightly?

The meanings of gay and sprightly largely overlap; however, gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Where would lively be a reasonable alternative to sprightly?

While the synonyms lively and sprightly are close in meaning, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

When is vivacious a more appropriate choice than sprightly?

Although the words vivacious and sprightly have much in common, vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sprightly

Adjective

Here in the famous Festival Theatre, the sprite Ariel, played in splendidly sprightly fashion by Marissa Orjalo, opens up the top of a piano, a piece of island flotsam and Prospero, in the form of the veteran actor Geraint Wyn Davies, shoves his coat inside, throws up his hands and closes the lid. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026 One of the Esperanto Naturist Organization’s leaders was a sprightly Frenchman named Thierry Spanjaard. — Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

Adverb

Halle Bailey is winsome and sprightly as Anna, a once-aspiring chef now reduced to working as a house sitter for wealthy clients in New York. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026 Its cast is exactly the sprightly ensemble needed to land its what-if laughs. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sprightly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprightly

Adjective

Players have long complained about less-lively balls that force them to swing harder to hit them through the court.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
The pilot sets up interesting tensions between Duke and surrogate father Kingsley and a livelier adversarial role for Pinnock, but Kingsley is gone for the majority of the six episodes (out of eight) sent to critics and Pinnock’s absence is felt.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026

Definition of lively

Adjective

San Jose recorded 1 million total downtown visits during the six-week FIFA World Cup, officials announced Friday — a final count over 2 ½ times initial projections — driven by energetic watch parties and strong fan culture in the city.

— Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 25 July 2026
These kinds of bursts travel faster than the energetic particles from a solar storm, and precede their arrival when shot towards Earth.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of energetic

Adjective

In Thursday’s announcement, Canal+ highlighted that the new deal would also see a strengthening of its support for new filmmakers and new styles of filmmaking; debut films and emerging talent; diversity film and animated films.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 July 2026
Although animated sequels have majorly rebounded at the box office, original fare remains challenged.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 July 2026

Definition of animated

Adjective

Crochet missed the initial wins due to his routine, which differs significantly from those of active players.

— Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 July 2026
During the Champions League celebrations, before La Reina’s departure was public, Putellas was very active in supporting Serrajordi, including featuring her in a post-game, pre-party Instagram Live.

— Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of active

Adjective

To imagine the natural world not as a passive resource but as an animate collaborator would be to reorder more than aesthetic categories, demanding another relation to our environment.

— Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 29 May 2026
Zugunruhe is the itinerant desire of any animate being to keep moving and growing.

— Big Think, Big Think, 6 May 2026

Definition of animate

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“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprightly. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sprightly

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