gutsy
Americanadjective
-
having a great deal of courage or nerve.
a gutsy lampooner of the administration.
-
robust, vigorous, or earthy; lusty.
gutsy writing; a gutsy red wine.
adjective
-
gluttonous; greedy
-
full of courage, determination, or boldness
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gutsy
1890–95; guts ( def. ) (in the sense “fortitude”) + -y 1; cf. -sy
Explanation
If someone's gutsy, they're bold and spirited. The gutsy pilot Amelia Earhart defied cultural expectations and braved dangerous situations to set many records in aviation. Beyond their courage and bravery, a gutsy person also has grit and determination, often facing several challenges at once. A gutsy athlete plays through pain, and a gutsy activist confronts challenges head-on and keeps working for the cause she believes in. Around 1800, gutsy meant "greedy," but by the end of the 19th century it came to be defined as "brave and plucky," from the figurative "spirits or courage" sense of guts.
Vocabulary lists containing gutsy
Matilda
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Put on a Bold Face: Synonyms for "Brave"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Schwa Was Here
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Yet the same people clung fiercely to their self-image as gutsy investors.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Ferreira’s Margot, the new film’s gutsy, likable lead, is a content moderator for a social media site named Kino.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Liverpool have now restored their know-how when it comes to winning football matches - be that through late winners, gutsy displays on the road or simply improving their output from set-pieces.
From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026
The Knicks' victory was a rebound from a humbling loss to Detroit with a gutsy victory that put them back into a tie for third place in the East.
From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026
For if a person could crack under heat or cold, a combination of the two seemed guaranteed to do in even the gutsy Galadriel.
From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson
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.
