spir·it·ed
ˈspir-ə-təd
: full of energy, animation, or courage
a spirited discussion
spiritedly
adverb
spiritedness
noun
spirited
2 of 3past tense and past participle of spirit entry 2
plural -es
: the quality or state of being spirited : animation, liveliness, vivacity
her natural spiritedness detested the monotony—George Meredith
—often used in combinationmean-spiritedness
public-spiritedness
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".
Cite this Entry
“Spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirited. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.
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