moxie
noun
mox·ie ˈmäk-sē 
1
: energy, pep
woke up full of moxie
2
: courage, determination
it takes … moxie to pull up roots and go to a land where the culture and probably the language are totally foreign
M. J. McClary
M. J. McClary3
: know-how
was impressed with his musical moxie and hired him as a solo
Did you know?
"Hot roasted peanuts! Fresh popcorn! Ice-cold Moxie!" You might have heard such a snack vendor's cry at a baseball game—if you attended it in the early 1900s. In its heyday, some claim that the soft drink named Moxie outsold Coca-Cola. The beverage was a favorite of American writer E. B. White, who wrote, "Moxie contains gentian root, which is the path to the good life. This was known in the second century before Christ and is a boon to me today." In quick time, moxie had become a slang term for nerve and verve, perhaps because some people thought the drink was a tonic that could cure virtually any ill and bring vim back to even the most lethargic individual.
Synonyms
- chops
- experience
- expertise
- know-how
- proficiency
- savvy
- skills
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He showed a lot of moxie in questioning the policy. it was old-fashioned military moxie that got medical supplies to the disaster site in record time
Recent Examples on the Web And while each supposedly possessed more natural talent than O’Connell, none could top his moxie. Tim Bielik, cleveland, 1 Sep. 2022 While commendable, his moxie did not yield a booking. Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 July 2022 The squinting sailor, ever the underdog, still musters his can-do moxie and flexes his belief in helping others with a timeless relatability. Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 That was certainly the case for the Blair brothers in the late 1960s and early 1970s when wins were a function of moxie and opportunity, of speaking up when a mixture of chance and determination put them in rooms with powerful people. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2022 Sweeney’s Bruins also didn’t match the Hurricanes for physical moxie. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 The Detroit Red Wings showed some of the moxie that's been missing over the past week, battling back after their opponent chased their goaltender five minutes into the game. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2022 Trade to end all trades: At the start of the season, after weeks of rumors and on-again, off-again negotiations, the Wings acquired power forward Brendan Shanahan from the lowly Hartford Whalers to add goals, size, toughness and moxie. Gene Myers, Detroit Free Press, 28 May 2022 Author Jen Hatmaker recounts some tales from her past that will truly speak to you and that exemplify her moxie. Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 9 May 2022 See More
Tim Bielik, cleveland, 1 Sep. 2022 While commendable, his moxie did not yield a booking. Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 July 2022 The squinting sailor, ever the underdog, still musters his can-do moxie and flexes his belief in helping others with a timeless relatability. Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 That was certainly the case for the Blair brothers in the late 1960s and early 1970s when wins were a function of moxie and opportunity, of speaking up when a mixture of chance and determination put them in rooms with powerful people. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2022 Sweeney’s Bruins also didn’t match the Hurricanes for physical moxie. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 The Detroit Red Wings showed some of the moxie that's been missing over the past week, battling back after their opponent chased their goaltender five minutes into the game. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2022 Trade to end all trades: At the start of the season, after weeks of rumors and on-again, off-again negotiations, the Wings acquired power forward Brendan Shanahan from the lowly Hartford Whalers to add goals, size, toughness and moxie. Gene Myers, Detroit Free Press, 28 May 2022 Author Jen Hatmaker recounts some tales from her past that will truly speak to you and that exemplify her moxie. Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 9 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
from Moxie, a trademark for a soft drink
First Known Use
1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1
moxie
noun
1
as in skills
knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something it was old-fashioned military moxie that got medical supplies to the disaster site in record time Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- skills
- expertise
- experience
- savvy
- proficiency
- chops
- know-how
- mastery
- background
- intimacy
- acquaintance
- familiarity
- command
- conversance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inexperience
- ignorance
- unfamiliarity
- unawareness
2
as in courage
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger a fearless journalist who denounced McCarthyism when few had the moxie to do so Synonyms & Similar Words
- courage
- bravery
- heroism
- courageousness
- gallantry
- prowess
- nerve
- valor
- daring
- fearlessness
- gutsiness
- guts
- stoutness
- gumption
- intrepidity
- hardihood
- fortitude
- virtue
- intrepidness
- daringness
- grit
- pecker
- spunk
- heart
- dauntlessness
- stamina
- mettle
- tenacity
- bottle
- determination
- perseverance
- endurance
- pluck
- intestinal fortitude
- greatheartedness
- pluckiness
- backbone
- doughtiness
- boldness
- audacity
- fiber
- temper
- resolution
- temerity
- cojones
- gall
- effrontery
- stomach
- brazenness
- cheek
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- timidity
- cowardice
- spinelessness
- fearfulness
- cowardliness
- softness
- timorousness
- weakness
- feebleness
- cold feet
- cravenness
- faintheartedness
- impotence
- hesitation
- dastardliness
- poltroonery
- ineffectualness
- indecision
- irresolution
- indecisiveness
- mousiness
3
as in vigor
active strength of body or mind say, you're full of moxie this morning! Synonyms & Similar Words
- vigor
- energy
- stamina
- verve
- pep
- strength
- juice
- gusto
- dynamism
- brio
- oomph
- vitality
- dash
- power
- gas
- spirit
- vim
- life
- zeal
- hardihood
- esprit
- zing
- punch
- ginger
- drive
- muscle
- zip
- bounce
- get-up-and-go
- spunk
- vinegar
- starch
- passion
- spunkiness
- go
- élan
- beans
- sap
- vivaciousness
- vivacity
- spiritedness
- sprightliness
- fervor
- liveliness
- mettle
- snap
- vibrancy
- soundness
- vibrance
- briskness
- ardor
- jauntiness
- fitness
- fire
- animation
- virility
- potency
- snappiness
- might
- hardiness
- puissance
- brawniness
- animal spirits
- sturdiness
- huskiness
- health
- metal
- healthiness
- wellness
- main
- verdure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lethargy
- tenderness
- listlessness
- sluggishness
- weakness
- laziness
- softness
- indolence
- impotence
- feebleness
- delicacy
- torpidity
- powerlessness
- frailty
- debility
- infirmity
- exhaustion
- enfeeblement
- debilitation
- impotency
- faintness
- frailness
- disablement
- slightness
- inanition
- enervation
- puniness
- prostration