spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ə-təd 
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
spiritedness
noun
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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".
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
Even its most mean-spirited plotline, in which a married couple assemble a fake theater production to humiliate their ex-neighbor whose noisiness prompted them to move, is presented as more of a gentle exercise in silliness than anything truly vindictive.
—
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
The Swamp is notoriously rowdy and spirited, but there’s still plenty for families to do in Gainesville, game day or not.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Been there, shrieked at that — but give the Normans credit for leaning into the mean-spirited spirit of the endeavor with some groan- and cheer-worthy fatalities, including a POV shot from the perspective of a witch’s broomstick.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The drama ran on the CW network from 2007 to 2012 and—also not hyperbole—defined a generation while still inspiring spirited debates and yearly rewatches by both devoted fans and curious newcomers.
—María Mérida, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
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Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
The Swamp is notoriously rowdy and spirited, but there’s still plenty for families to do in Gainesville, game day or not.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Been there, shrieked at that — but give the Normans credit for leaning into the mean-spirited spirit of the endeavor with some groan- and cheer-worthy fatalities, including a POV shot from the perspective of a witch’s broomstick.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The drama ran on the CW network from 2007 to 2012 and—also not hyperbole—defined a generation while still inspiring spirited debates and yearly rewatches by both devoted fans and curious newcomers.
—María Mérida, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spirited
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spirited
adjective
spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ət-əd
: full of courage or energy
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
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