1
as in fiery
marked by a lively display of strong feeling
the town meeting featured a spirited debate about the proposed ban on skateboarding in the plaza downtown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lively
having much high-spirited energy and movement
a team known for its spirited and in-your-face basketball
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 spirited
Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
Enjoying Jazz In its 21st year, the spirited Cape Cod Jazz Festival offers visitors (hotel guests and the public) the chance to enjoy live music and try great food and drinks on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in July and August.
—Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
There was a spirited late rally which came to nothing.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 July 2025
As Zora, Johansson is at least high-energy, yet her spirited line deliveries don’t make up for her character’s almost distressing ignorance of the dangers around her.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Verb
The accessories in this collection lived somewhere on the spectrum between sophisticated and spirited — inspired by a morning on the beach after staying up all night at a party.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
Enjoying Jazz In its 21st year, the spirited Cape Cod Jazz Festival offers visitors (hotel guests and the public) the chance to enjoy live music and try great food and drinks on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in July and August.
—Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
There was a spirited late rally which came to nothing.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 July 2025
As Zora, Johansson is at least high-energy, yet her spirited line deliveries don’t make up for her character’s almost distressing ignorance of the dangers around her.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirited
Adjective
-
One fiery comment that’s floating around is that this could turn out to be another semblance of the infamous Sputnik crisis.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
In another, cucumber kimchi, a fresh and crunchy side dressed in gochujang with a fiery kick that cuts through the richness filling the rest of my tray.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Now officially open, the interactive restaurant invites guests to craft their own culinary creations in a lively, open-kitchen setting with stunning bay views that include Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop.—
Chelsea Davis,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
-
Visitors are always welcome to join the event for a lively meeting filled with camaraderie, inspiring guest speakers, and a delicious lunch.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 July 2025
Adjective
-
When colleges support these efforts, faculty champions are able to build powerful partnerships around campus, while passionate students find creative and effective ways to connect with their peers.—
Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
New hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars staffed by passionate locals and patronized by an in-the-know clientele have begun to push Nice back into the spotlight.—
Sloane Crosley,
Travel + Leisure,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Together, the data reveals different layers of the galaxy's structure and energetic processes, highlighted by bright gold light in the image.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
24 July 2025
-
The image of a tiny hamster running endlessly on a spinning wheel has become an iconic part of owning these small, energetic animals.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
The cosmic whirlpool was captured in stunning video and appears to have been created by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster falling back toward Earth, according to experts.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The French Football Federation’s social media team captured his return to Clairefontaine, where he was shown sharing an embrace with Deschamps moments after crossing the famous chateau’s threshold.—
Tom Williams,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
John's dramatic introduction to thunderstorms, captured so vividly on video, is a reminder of the vulnerability of our most spunky and playful pets.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
-
Spinning off from the 2021 movie of the same name, the show is about Pil, a spunky vagabond girl living in the medieval city of Foggyborough.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Netflix’s deal with Ubisoft got underway in 2020 and includes multiple Assassin’s Creed projects, including animated and anime series inspired by the games.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
17 July 2025
-
The two animated companions are available to anyone, including Grok users without a paid subscription, but users must opt in through the app’s settings to get access.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Making a brisk morning walk in the sun part of your daily routine can be a grounding, enjoyable experience.—
Ashley Olivine,
Verywell Health,
23 July 2025
-
When measuring the nation's collective fitness, the good news is Americans are more likely to take a brisk walk, play pickleball or lift weights.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirited. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share