sprightly

adjective

spright·​ly ˈsprīt-lē 

sprightlier; sprightliest

1

: marked by a gay lightness and vivacity : spirited

a sprightly musical

2

: having a distinctively piquant taste : zesty

a sprightly salsa

sprightliness noun

sprightly adverb

Did you know?

Sprightly comes from spright, an archaic version of the word we now use for an elf or fairy: sprite. Ariel from William Shakespeare's The Tempest and the leprechaun of Irish mythology are often referred to as sprites, and it's no coincidence that both are characterized by their light, flitting movements and mannerisms. Sprite derives via Middle English and Old French from the Latin spiritus, which of course gives us spirit as well. A similar-looking adjective that can describe someone who is nimble and energetic is spry, but the origin of that word is not known.

Synonyms

• active
• airy
• animate
• animated
• bouncing
• brisk
• energetic
• frisky
• gay
• jaunty
• jazzy
• kinetic
• lively
• mettlesome
• peppy
• perky
• pert
• pizzazzy
• pizazzy
• racy
• snappy
• spanking
• sparky
• spirited
• springy
• vital
• vivacious
• zippy

Choose the Right Synonym for sprightly

lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited.

lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Examples of sprightly in a Sentence

a sprightly child who often claims to be too tired to move when it's time to do chores

Recent Examples on the Web

For the track, Kendrick jumping jacks over a track that turns a Debbie Deb classic into a sprightly hyphy anthem. —Peter A. Berry, Variety, 24 Nov. 2024

In this sprightly sequel to the 2018 hit, Harrelson has a blast as a deranged killer who is transformed into the monstrous Carnage, a symbiote as powerful as Venom. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 14 July 2024

Through a melodic flow of political parlance and an impressive stable of sprightly actors, creator Debora Cahn stages a spirited play about political relationships — and relationship politics — that never feels stodgy or stupefying, despite an ungodly amount of dialogue. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024

It’s filled with colorful side characters, like the sprightly Pinky, whose zest for life has not been tempered by her own past tragedies. —Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

obsolete spright (sprite), alteration of sprite

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

sprightly

adjective

spright·​ly ˈsprīt-lē 

sprightlier; sprightliest

: full of spirit : lively

sprightliness noun

sprightly adverb