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 melodramatic Bea often takes potshots at spirited newcomer Ndidi (the deft Aisha Sougou) over coveted customers in some of the play’s funniest moments. —Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

The show's 2024 Halloween edition comes after last year's spirited broadcast, which featured 50 costume changes, from a scene inspired by Ghost to a hybrid of The Golden Bachelor and The White Lotus. —EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024

The former player and spirited coach guided Minnesota to multiple playoff appearances but was fired last year during a lengthy losing streak. —Kyle Stokes, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024

Wonder took a brief break as his stellar backing group put a spirited spin on everything from Aretha Franklin to Carole King, with Wonder returning to the stage following a costume change. —Jim Ryan, Forbes, 4 Nov. 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