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

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plucky British  

/ ˈplʌkɪ /

adjective

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

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Other Word Forms

• pluckily adverb
• pluckiness noun

Etymology

Origin of plucky

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

Example Sentences

In the 1960s and early ’70s, she is a plucky striver; in later decades, she is another famous author—book tours, awards, hobnobbing with luminaries, Democratic politics, remodeling homes in tony enclaves.

From The Wall Street Journal

And though the devastation wrought by last year’s fire was unprecedented in its scale, the Schneiders remain optimistic about the future of their beloved enclave and its plucky local paper.

From Los Angeles Times

The opportunity to identify with a plucky little plumber made the game a global sensation, leading to the creation of “Super Mario Bros.” and its sequels to the present day.

From The Wall Street Journal

It falls awkwardly between an ink-black comedy, in which everyone is wicked so murder can be treated with a wink, and a plucky, grounded story of an eager youth making steady progress.

From The Wall Street Journal

Of course, for fans of rival teams with fewer -- or zero -- Super Bowls in their trophy cabinets, the notion of the Patriots as plucky underdogs might be hard to swallow.

From Barron's

Related Words

• courageous
• gutsy
• heroic
• spirited
• spunky
• valiant