as in brave
informal
having or showing a lot of courage or determination
A plucky young man who never gave up on his dream.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plucky
The plucky kid who seemingly had a fast-track job and a beyond-dreams wife is now desperately snorting it all away.
—
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Bachata played faintly, with plucky notes from the guitar cutting through cows' grunts.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Each of those films also features a plucky, diminutive hero who succeeds in the face of naysayers—an easy figure for any kid watching to root for.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
While a double-digit seed in the Sweet 16 is nothing to scoff at, the Longhorns are hardly a plucky underdog given their track record as a program this century.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plucky
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Bachata played faintly, with plucky notes from the guitar cutting through cows' grunts.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Each of those films also features a plucky, diminutive hero who succeeds in the face of naysayers—an easy figure for any kid watching to root for.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
While a double-digit seed in the Sweet 16 is nothing to scoff at, the Longhorns are hardly a plucky underdog given their track record as a program this century.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plucky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plucky
Adjective
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Emery had been incessant in wanting shorter, faster balls from his deeper players, with Villa’s best opportunity of the afternoon stemming from brave passing in combination in the first half, coaxing Fulham onto them before John McGinn whipped a ball into the space behind.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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The other new standout debuting on MSC World America is the Cliffhanger ($5), a huge swing that hangs over the side of the ship—the screams of brave riders prove the thrill is legit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Today, Mr Speaker, that same, unyielding resolve is needed for the defence of Ukraine and her most courageous people – it is needed in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Claire has been an advocate for courageous stories, an expert at complicated logistics and a wonderful partner to teams across the entire news division.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Keegan Bradley captained last year's team at Bethpage Black, which had an embarrassing first two days but gave a valiant effort at an unprecedented comeback in Sunday singles.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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That Niall finds Ruben so alluring is natural to Gadd, who believes the notion of a valiant male figure has been bred into everyone via fables and fairy tales.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
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Her most consistent trait as an actor is making fearless choices, no matter the material.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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But thanks to one very determined dog, Delp’s draft day celebration is now famous for an entirely different reason.—
Sara Vallone,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Apr. 2026
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Delp, the 22-year-old former Georgia Bulldogs tight end was selected by the New Orleans Saints on April 24 during the third round of the NFL draft, and the video of that special moment has quickly gone viral — thanks in no small part to his pup’s determined quest for a seat.—
Sara Vallone,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the Ballances were more than gallant warriors – in fact, a life-size oil painting of Marti’s great-grandfather Charles Ballance’s wife and children – including her grandfather Willis as a 3-year-old – hangs in a place of honor at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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And Texas made a gallant comeback to tie the game at 77-77 when Pope coolly sank three consecutive free throws after getting fouled behind the arc with 3.8 seconds remaining.—
Kirk Bohls,
Houston Chronicle,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The goal and Joao Pedro’s ping off the inside of Lucas Perri’s near post were the concerns, but beyond that, United were resolute at the back, but unable to muster anything of their own.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The Bucks County, Pennsylvania, grandmother, then 76, looked frail but resolute.—
Craig R. McCoy,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Union didn’t account for the heroic efforts of Gavran, though, who charged forward for a free kick and wound up in prime position to get his head – and his shoulder – to Alonso Coello’s cross in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.—
Avi Creditor,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Songs here that start off surprisingly bracing resolve into big, sleek choruses, the work of firm believers in the power of heroic, high-protein mainstream alt-rock as a salve against encroaching darkness.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plucky. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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