spunky

adjective

ˈspəŋ-kē How to pronounce spunky (audio)
spunkier; spunkiest
Synonyms of spunky
: full of spunk : spirited
spunkily
ˈspəŋ-kə-lē How to pronounce spunky (audio)
adverb
spunkiness
ˈspəŋ-kē-nəs How to pronounce spunky (audio)
noun

Synonyms of spunky

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Examples of spunky in a Sentence

a spunky determination to make the best of a bad situation
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.
Meanwhile, Susan was a spunky fan favorite on the inaugural Golden Bachelor season. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 The mop-haired actor plays Joey, a spunky boy onboard who bonds with Maddie over having absent parents in the military. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 As for her birth story, Lockwood says her smart and spunky 5-year-old daughter knows it all. — Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 Zann eventually got a call from casting director Meredith Layne and a screenplay with lines that were instantly familiar from her time voicing Rogue, the spunky heroine whose touch can be deadly, in the ‘90s. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spunky

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spunky was in 1786

Rhymes for spunky

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Browse Nearby Words

spunkiness
spunky
spun rayon
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Cite this Entry

“Spunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spunky. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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