as in lively
having much high-spirited energy and movement
a sprightly child who often claims to be too tired to move when it's time to do chores
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in playfully
in a quick and spirited manner
every morning the elderly couple sprightly sets out on a walk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sprightly
Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Pick from an assortment of delicious recipes doled out by a roster of sprightly locals, from apple strudel to Sacher-style chocolate gâteaux.
—Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Nov. 2025
Rice was playing at an All-Pro level last year before suffering a torn ACL, second-year receiver Xavier Worthy is always improving and even tight end Travis Kelce is appearing more sprightly than last campaign.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprightly
Adjective
Johnson, a sprightly man with a bright Midwestern accent, wore a hat with the logo of his employer, the U.S. Geological Survey, which conducts much of the G.L.F.C.’s research.
—Adverb
Hours before the awards ceremony, the veteran exec is still sprightly trodding the labyrinthine corridors of the festival home of the International Theatre Amsterdam.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprightly
Adjective
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Chabada For a livelier scene, head to the main drag along Platja de l’Arenal to find Chabada.—
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The style throughout, irrespective of category, is lively without being hectic, a pleasing postmodern blend of contemporary, midcentury, and roughly Victorian elements.—
Adjective
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Whether that’s stand in the pocket, whether that’s run, whether that’s scramble, whether that’s hand the ball off 30 times and be energetic about it.—
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The show channels a certain energetic, zany sense of humor viewers could recognize from their own adolescent friendships and antics, culminating in a five-season run and a 2021–2023 revival on Paramount+.—
Adjective
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The show's only limit is its imagination, as fans have already seen Captain Pike and his crew delight in musical and animated episodes.—
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The sequel, which has the Ghostbusters facing off with the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian and his profoundly negative vibes, ends in a joyous celebration that brings the Big Apple together while an animated Statue of Liberty stomps to the rescue.—
Adjective
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At Glenlaurel Inn & Spa nearby, inventive food and plush cabins balance brisk hikes for a perfectly woodsy winter getaway.—
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The show has been doing brisk business, with the most recent box office figures (for the Broadway week ending January 4) reporting attendance at 96% of the venue’s capacity.—
Adjective
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Highly active world Enceladus is a highly active world, with a global, salty sub-surface ocean, believed to be the source of its heat.—
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During inquiries, the ICO found 178 active email accounts using passwords identical or similar to those set by the organization’s IT desk when the account was activated.—
Adjective
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From lanterns several stories tall and hundreds of feet long to interactive exhibits that animate and breathe fire (in the form of smoke, Lewis clarifies), the festival evokes a deep sense of awe.—
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Political violence in the late summer and early fall, along with a government shutdown that began Oct. 1 also appeared to animate voters in the final days of the campaign.—
Cite this Entry
“Sprightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprightly. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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