sprightly

[ sprahyt-lee ]

adjective

, spright·li·er, spright·li·est.

1. animated or vivacious; lively.

   Synonyms: spry, buoyant, blithe, spirited

adverb

1. in a sprightly manner.

sprightly

/ ˈspraɪtlɪ /

adjective

1. full of vitality; lively

adverb

1. obsolete.
   in a lively manner

Derived Forms

• ˈsprightliness, noun

Other Words From

• sprightli·ness noun
• un·sprightly adjective adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sprightly¹

1590–1600; spright (spelling variant of sprite ) + -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of sprightly¹

C16: from spright, variant of sprite + -ly ¹

Example Sentences

And every one of them seems to cough up the same anecdotes on the sprightly blonde.

From The Daily Beast

Although sprightly, Lilith is unusually small for her age, and thereby the butt of ridicule from her classmates.

From The Daily Beast

His films, sprightly action flicks with clear lines between good and evil and a noble hero, touched a chord in a post-war America.

From The Daily Beast

Cancer veteran Michael Douglas appeared sprightly in a summer linen suit.

From The Daily Beast

Ethel Skakel was a sprightly little blonde of 22, born into immense wealth, when she married Bobby on June 17, 1950.

From The Daily Beast

By this new species of shorthand we might have embodied this very article in half a dozen sprightly etchings!

From Project Gutenberg

He was the prince of travelling companions, always gay and sprightly, and spoke French with great fluency.

From Project Gutenberg

The fond parent made the sprightly and fascinating child his daily companion.

From Project Gutenberg

Aye, but I danced like a fairy, an' there was not another couple so sprightly an' handsome in all the country.

From Project Gutenberg

He seemed to intimate that he understood all that was passing in her mind, and was not balked by sprightly appearances.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agile
• bouncy
• cheerful
• chirpy
• energetic
• jaunty
• lively
• peppy
• playful
• spry
• zippy