Synonyms of spiritednext
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly adverb
spiritedness noun

spirited

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of spirit entry 2

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".

Examples of spirited in a Sentence

Adjective The team put up a spirited defense. She's a very spirited young lady.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
In 1967, the prominent computer scientists Allen Newell, Alan Perlis, and Herbert Simon staked out their position in a spirited letter to the editor in the journal Science. Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 Now in his second season with his favorite childhood team, Cruz has made an impression not only with his signature splitter, but also his spirited personality. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Set in a small Texas town, the film follows Parton as the spirited owner of a famous local establishment and Reynolds as the sheriff determined to defend it from public scrutiny. Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 27 Aug. 2026 The evening’s lineup also featured spirited performances from openers Belly Gang Kushington and YKNiece followed by Real Boston Richey, Miles Caton, Tone Stith and Tiana Major9. Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spirited

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spirited was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

spirited

adjective
: full of courage or energy
a spirited discussion
spiritedly adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!