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Synonyms

moxie

American  
[mok-see] / ˈmɒk si /

noun

Slang.
  1. courageous spirit and determination; perseverance.

    The pitcher showed his moxie in Sunday’s win.

  2. vigor; verve; pep.

  3. skill; know-how.


moxie British  
/ ˈmɒksɪ /

noun

  1. slang courage, nerve, or vigour

"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

Etymology

Origin of moxie

An Americanism first recorded in 1925–30; after Moxie, a trademark (name of a soft drink)

Explanation

If you have moxie, you won’t let a minor setback stop you from trying again, because you’re a determined person who doesn’t give up easily. Moxie describes someone with a fighting spirit. A boxer needs moxie in order to get up after being punched in the face, and a computer programmer who spends years building a video game has a lot of moxie. The word moxie comes from a soft drink named Moxie that tastes like sugary cough medicine and claimed it would “build up your nerve.” Someone who is brave enough to drink an entire can of that curious beverage clearly has moxie.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing moxie

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.

Japan had real moxie in 1985, when this population cohort slowly started to narrow.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

It didn’t happen overnight, took a lot of moxie and grit, but we made it through.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

That moxie to still be involved despite his injury is one of the reasons why England like Bashir.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

Ordaz also showed a bit of moxie midway through the first half Wednesday when he tangled with veteran Miami defender Maximiliano Falcón, who baited his young opponent all game.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025

You ain't got the moxie to handle no mobs, remember?

From The Best Made Plans by Dongen, H. R. van