as in vigor
active strength of body or mind
the dance company has an infectious esprit that captivates audiences
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Recent Examples of esprit
This is as it should be, given the virtuosic esprit of Thallon’s performance.
—
Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
In power, their Cheka harnessed the esprit of a military-religious order of knights with the atrocious violence of a gangster hit squad.
—Time, 24 Aug. 2023
As hip-hop rose from an underground phenomenon to a global vernacular, that esprit—of being the best, the baddest, the most beautiful—never vanished.
—Outside Online, 28 Oct. 2021
Each outfit in the show is accompanied by a headpiece that features a corresponding term, such as esprit, vitality, and self-determination.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2021
The assembly has moved online because of the coronavirus, compounding the pandemic's blows to the city's economy and worldly esprit.
—Jennifer Peltz, Star Tribune, 21 Sep. 2020
Longtime residents credit the company for the city’s somewhat international esprit and a level of spoken English beyond even the already-high Finnish norm (the city’s street names—Machine Alley; Adapter Street—are more unambiguous).
—Natasha Frost, Quartz, 29 Oct. 2019
College deans wanted to establish the same esprit-de-corps within houses as could be found in an exclusive fraternity, but that required engineering.
—Carla Yanni, Smithsonian, 6 Sep. 2019
Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
In power, their Cheka harnessed the esprit of a military-religious order of knights with the atrocious violence of a gangster hit squad.
—Time, 24 Aug. 2023
As hip-hop rose from an underground phenomenon to a global vernacular, that esprit—of being the best, the baddest, the most beautiful—never vanished.
—Outside Online, 28 Oct. 2021
Each outfit in the show is accompanied by a headpiece that features a corresponding term, such as esprit, vitality, and self-determination.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2021
The assembly has moved online because of the coronavirus, compounding the pandemic's blows to the city's economy and worldly esprit.
—Jennifer Peltz, Star Tribune, 21 Sep. 2020
Longtime residents credit the company for the city’s somewhat international esprit and a level of spoken English beyond even the already-high Finnish norm (the city’s street names—Machine Alley; Adapter Street—are more unambiguous).
—Natasha Frost, Quartz, 29 Oct. 2019
College deans wanted to establish the same esprit-de-corps within houses as could be found in an exclusive fraternity, but that required engineering.
—Carla Yanni, Smithsonian, 6 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for esprit
Noun
-
Instead, Becerra recited his resume with the vigor of someone rattling off his LinkedIn page.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
While the bodegones are fading from the economic landscape, the vehicle dealership sector is emerging with vigor.—
CNN Staff,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Just being able to be available every single day and also just bring energy and be a good clubhouse guy.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The ambiance and energy were incredible.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There was more spirit, resilience and fight against Roberto De Zerbi’s side than Wolves had displayed in the second half of the 4-0 defeat at West Ham and almost the entirety of the 3-0 reverse at Leeds United.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The yarns of Joe Turner interweave gradually, everyday chit-chat, bargaining, and flirtation interlocking over time with threads of mysticism — both the ghosts of a brutal history and the ancestral spirits that stand protective and defiant like a phalanx of angels with shining swords.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The result was a more hierarchical, siloed system — one that didn’t keep pace with the Valley’s dynamism.—
Morris M. Kleiner,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Any social good that emerged was a mere by-product of the economic dynamism these relations were supposed to unleash.—
Hettie O'Brien,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The 6-3, 241-pound Joly would be the direct backup to Dalton Kincaid from a skill set perspective, and could give the Bills some more juice at tight end.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The New England cannabis convention going on the same day in Boston has more juice than the GOP confab in Worcester.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Here’s how the growing cost of oil and gas is impacting consumers.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Thirty-six thousand fans on a school day, with San Diego gas at six bucks a gallon.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nowadays, films with box-office appeal are audience-tested within an inch of their lives.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Knicks made life difficult for him in the halfcourt, and once that happened, Atlanta’s offense kept running into dead ends.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Esprit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/esprit. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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