spirited

adjective

spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ə-təd 

: full of energy, animation, or courage

a spirited discussion

spiritedly adverb

spiritedness noun

Did you know?

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".

Synonyms

• fiery
• gingery
• high-spirited
• mettlesome
• peppery
• spunky

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

The spirited conversation left Smith speechless, a rare occurrence for the passionate and theatrical sports commentator. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 4 June 2024

But the fight served as a warning to leaders like Ms. Lew that future highway construction would face spirited opposition. —Megan Kimble, New York Times, 31 May 2024

Here’s a sampling of festivals, tastings and other spirited fun in the coming months. —Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 22 May 2024

From finding a new friend in the West Indian heiress Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke) to falling for the spirited gentleman Sidney Parker (Theo James), Charlotte navigates plenty of unexpected connections. —Cady Lang, TIME, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spirited

• high-spirited
• low-spirited
• mean-spirited
• poor-spirited
• public-spirited

Kids Definition

spirited

adjective

spir·​it·​ed ˈspir-ət-əd 

: full of courage or energy

a spirited discussion

spiritedly adverb