1
as in energetic
having much high-spirited energy and movement
the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fiery
marked by a lively display of strong feeling
a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of mettlesome
He may have been provoked into battle by the ruler of Cebu, who was using Magellan’s troops to rid himself of a mettlesome chieftain known to raid the trade ships that navigated the waters in and around the islands.
—
Tim Carman, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2022
Tim Carman, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettlesome
Adjective
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Chamberlin oversaw the spiritual and energetic cleansing of each fragrance during a final ceremonial step.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Higher temperatures generally mean more energetic particles and a higher rate of collisions, leading to brighter auroras.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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After speaker introductions, a panel of state officials and medical providers fielded questions from the media, and Larson stepped up to answer the first one, speaking in his typical fiery rhetoric.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2025
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Underneath his cool, calm exterior, though, was a fiery competitor.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Even though that last one was over a decade ago now, Frost has been in loads of projects since then, including doing a lot of voicework for animated endeavors.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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Kevin Conroy, most famously the eternal voice of Batman in animated and video game projects for decades, sadly passed away in 2022 from cancer.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Heat led by as many as 15 points in the first half and entered halftime with a 14-point advantage behind a spirited defensive effort.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
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As with any kind of significant plans among any family, spirited debate and differing desires remain part of the process.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The 2025 season has brought a lively atmosphere, with a strong law enforcement presence to ensure safety.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2025
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The same subject stirred up a lively debate in the Vogue Slack channel.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Candy Clark came to Hollywood at the dawn of the seventies, a spunky twentysomething who’d fled her conservative Texas home town and taken up modelling in New York.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2025
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Bubble Yum! Miu Miu’s bubblegum pink patent leather skirt acts as the spunky foundation in this transitional look.—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Your business should excite your customers, frustrate your competitors and animate and motivate your people.—
Jeffrey Russell,
Forbes,
6 Nov. 2024
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Photo : Paul Barnaby Robert Longo photographs animate the entry foyer.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Sanchez, who described herself as a passionate volleyball player in her youth, talked of girls’ losing coveted spots on teams, and in some cases suffering injuries during games because of trans athletes unfairly competing against them.—
Jessica Garrison,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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The couple alternates between passionate embraces and domestic tension (an ambulance shows up in their driveway, at one point, its whirring red and blue light hinting something sinister has just taken place).—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mettlesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettlesome. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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