1
as in joyful
joyously unrestrained
a high-spirited crowd loudly cheering the basketball team on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spirited
marked by a lively display of strong feeling
the band struck up a high-spirited march as the President's motorcade approached
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-spirited
Adjective
-
In that derelict playground, Lucy reminisces about her hippie youth, then spins in joyful abandon on a rusty carrousel.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026 -
Spring clearly has Reese Witherspoon in a joyful mood.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Viewers tune into Murstein’s content to hear Grandma Gail’s best advice, much of which involves her spirited opinions about dating and fashion.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Stanley had a songbook full of these, some spirited, some spiritual.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
YoshimiO, sharing fellow ’90s icon Flea’s recent interest in the instrument, turns in a credible trumpet line during the track’s shuffling, exuberant second half.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The 2019 Kennedy Center honoree, a protege of the late Leonard Bernstein, was a gifted pianist known for his exuberant compositions and ability to break down musical genres, and in particular, his dynamic interpretations of Gustav Mahler.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
One is aji verde, a fiery, electric green sauce made with Peruvian yellow peppers, and huacatay, a pungent, black mint with hints of tarragon and citrus.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In the video, an officer tries to use a key to enter the residence when the front of the building explodes in a fiery blast.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This lively street—lined with elegant colonial homes and cozy cafes and restaurants—culminates at the iconic Ex-Convento de San Bernardino de Siena, known for its nightly video-mapping shows projected in Spanish and in English.—
Regina Zumarraga,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The suit included some versions of Indiana’s trademark work, LOVE, which depicts the word love in lively serif characters, the LO situated atop the VE, with the O placed at an angle.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The average lifespan for the spunky toy breed, Maltese is 15 years.—
Katelyn Chef,
Martha Stewart,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Torres said that despite her diagnosis, Valentina has retained her spunky personality.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both Angela Ingersoll, who played the ever-hopeful Sally, and Michelle Duffy, as the cynical realist Phyllis, pulsed with vivacious energy, playing across from Rapp’s sardonic take on wound-tight Ben and Wallem’s deeply sad exploration of Buddy.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Noblezada stepped into the role of the tragically vivacious nightclub singer Sally Bowles, but rather than playing her unlikely lover Cliff, Carney was cast as the impishly sinister Emcee of the Kit Kat Club.—
Carey Purcell,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Savannah is so passionate about the game.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Feelings of affection will become passionate.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“High-spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-spirited. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
