sprightly
adjective
Did you know?
Sprightly comes from spright, an archaic version of the word we now use for an elf or fairy: sprite. Ariel from William Shakespeare's The Tempest and the leprechaun of Irish mythology are often referred to as sprites, and it's no coincidence that both are characterized by their light, flitting movements and mannerisms. Sprite derives via Middle English and Old French from the Latin spiritus, which of course gives us spirit as well. A similar-looking adjective that can describe someone who is nimble and energetic is spry, but the origin of that word is not known.
Synonyms
- active
- airy
- animate
- animated
- bouncing
- brisk
- energetic
- frisky
- gay
- jaunty
- jazzy
- kinetic
- lively
- mettlesome
- peppy
- perky
- pert
- pizzazzy
- pizazzy
- racy
- snappy
- spanking
- sparky
- spirited
- springy
- vital
- vivacious
- zippy
Example Sentences
Mark Richardson, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 But where the original glides along a smooth, deep-house concourse, Koze provides a slightly choppy piano-house beat that feels brighter, sprightly and warm. Katie Bain, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2022 As Pruitt peeled open a can of Friskies, Popcorn was suddenly sprightly. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2022 That’s relatively svelte by modern standards and will make for an agile, sprightly tank. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 14 June 2022 In the sprightly shade, Middleton proved a summery color can look seasonally appropriate in the fall, especially when paired with a black turtleneck, black belt, and navy suede pumps, which helped ground the look. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2021 The younger version of Leia, Luke’s twin sister, makes a sprightly appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi, thankfully played by a real actor, a delightful Vivien Lyra Blair. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 14 June 2022 But none of this sitting-around stuff for this sprightly 58-year-old. Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2022 At the sound of the sprightly steel drum opening, Lido Pimienta lit up with a playful grin and started vocalizing. Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
obsolete spright (sprite), alteration of sprite
1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
sprightly
adjective
sprightly 1 of 2
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- lively
- energetic
- animated
- brisk
- active
- animate
- cheerful
- spirited
- bouncing
- enthusiastic
- vivacious
- perky
- peppy
- playful
- jaunty
- awake
- frisky
- zippy
- sparky
- springy
- jazzy
- pert
- kinetic
- mettlesome
- racy
- snappy
- airy
- gay
- agile
- vital
- spanking
- spry
- up
- bright
- pizazzy
- dapper
- dashing
- eager
- pizzazzy
- nimble
- effervescent
- spiffy
- buoyant
- chirpy
- upbeat
- chipper
- ebullient
- impish
- on the go
- exuberant
- bubbly
- sparkly
- boisterous
- frolicsome
- alert
- agog
- keen
- nervous
- open-eyed
- wide-awake
- pixieish
- high-spirited
- skittish
- chirrupy
- high-strung
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- languid
- listless
- limp
- leaden
- dead
- spiritless
- lackadaisical
- indolent
- inactive
- vapid
- lifeless
- inanimate
- unambitious
- sluggish
- lazy
- languishing
- languorous
- weary
- torpid
- inert
- sleepy
- stolid
- tired
- phlegmatic
- lethargic
- impassive
- apathetic
- dull
- irksome
- tedious
- boring
sprightly
2 of 2adverb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- lively
- playfully
- buoyantly
- vivaciously
- pertly
- spiritedly
- animately
- bouncily
- perkily
- airily
- animatedly
- energetically
- gayly
- allegro
- trippingly
- snappily
- gaily
- briskly
- effervescently
- crisply
- livelily
- friskily
- high-spiritedly
- jazzily
- sportively
- breezily
- spryly
- racily
- sparkily
- dashingly
- agilely
- jauntily
- skittishly
- springily
- dapperly
- cockily
- nimbly
- gamesomely
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sluggishly
- tardily
- dully
- indolently
- lazily
- heavily
- idly
- lethargically
- halfheartedly
- inanimately
- slothfully
- listlessly
- tiredly
- wearily
- inactively
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of sprightly are animated, gay, lively, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.
In some situations, the words animated and sprightly are roughly equivalent. However, animated applies to what is spirited and active.
The meanings of gay and sprightly largely overlap; however, gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.
While the synonyms lively and sprightly are close in meaning, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.
Although the words vivacious and sprightly have much in common, vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.