feistiness
Americannoun
Explanation
Feistiness is a characteristic of being spunky, assertive, or even a little aggressive. Your little pup's feistiness is clear from the way he snarls at the bigger dogs in the neighborhood. Feistiness is from feisty and the American English noun feist, "small dog." A brave, spunky, and touchy little dog embodies this word perfectly — it carries both positive and negative connotations. Your feistiness can bring you success, because you're outspoken and brave. But it can also imply a quality of being quick to take offense and become aggressive: "My dog's feistiness got her kicked out of doggy daycare."
Vocabulary lists containing feistiness
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.
Meloni responded with a video message that showed the feistiness she is known for domestically: “I and Italy never beg.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
That is a feistiness that I’m proud of.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026
But the battle with van de Donk - her teammate on French club Lyon - typifies her feistiness.
From Washington Times • Jul. 27, 2023
But I’m banking on the Seahawks’ feistiness to keep it relatively competitive.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 13, 2023
Looking back on it now, I think my parents appreciated my feistiness and I’m glad for it.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
