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Synonyms

plucky

American  
[pluhk-ee] / ˈplʌk i /

adjective

pluckier, pluckiest

  1. having or showing pluck or courage; brave.

    The drowning swimmer was rescued by a plucky schoolboy.
    Synonyms:
    spirited, spunky, cheerful, determined, courageous
plucky British  
/ ˈplʌkɪ /

adjective

  1. having or showing courage in the face of difficulties, danger, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • pluckily adverb
  • pluckiness noun

Etymology

Origin of plucky

First recorded in 1820–30; pluck + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As an adult, I’ve tried to will myself back into enthrallment with this plucky heroine who repels a scary hobo, bravely goes without food and saves a poor Italian immigrant when others are against her.

From The Wall Street Journal

Adam Johnson conjures the watery world of the precolonial Tuʻitonga empire in this fictional saga of sovereigns, warriors, celestial navigators and plucky commoners.

From The Wall Street Journal

Farrell was far from disappointed with his side thanks to their plucky defence which managed to keep their hopes alive of grinding out an unlikely victory.

From Barron's

“And we’re a plucky group of one-time adventurers. You do the math.”

From Literature

The novelty of her situation was not lost on the plucky young governess.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.