sprightly

[sprahyt-lee]

adjective

sprightlier, sprightliest 

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

Other Word Forms

• sprightliness noun
• unsprightly adjective

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

The current Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, is a sprightly 74.

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Joni Mitchell’s sprightly “Ladies of the Canyon” album gave way to the melancholy “Blue.”

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Eventually, the movement realized that using the old instruments in sprightly, imaginative and contemporary ways instead made the music sound newly vital, and even more so when the staging was startlingly up to date.

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As a spoof of melodrama, it is sprightly, crisply executed and untaxingly entertaining.

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At least Stokes was able to get through three sprightly spells across the match, including bowling the first over on Saturday.

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Related Words

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