spunky

[ spuhng-kee ]

/ ˈspʌŋ ki /

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See synonyms for: spunky / spunkiness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, spunk·i·er, spunk·i·est.

plucky; spirited.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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Origin of spunky

First recorded in 1780–90; spunk + -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM spunky

spunk·i·ly, adverbspunk·i·ness, noun

Words nearby spunky

spunbonded, spun-bonding, spun glass, spunk, spunkie, spunky, spun rayon, spun silk, spun sugar, spunware, spun yarn

How to use spunky in a sentence

Instead, I try to make anger seem spunky and charming and sexy.
Emily Ratajkowski: How I Learned to Let Go|Emily Ratajkowski|October 26, 2021|Time
It’s always going to be tempting to feed the geese in the local pond and get up close with the spunky raccoons in your backyard.
Humans are pushing into animals’ homes, but nature is as rebellious as ever|Sara Kiley Watson|September 14, 2021|Popular-Science
If all goes well, SpaceX will become the shuttle’s successor, filling a major gap in America’s spaceflight program in a coming-of-age moment for what was once a spunky start-up.
2021 could be a huge year for space. Here’s what’s to come from NASA, Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos.|Christian Davenport|December 30, 2020|Washington Post
Spunky and adventurous, Cricket epitomized the “high-risk lifestyle” law enforcement would later describe.
Who's Murdering the Prostitutes of Albuquerque?|Sally Denton|April 27, 2009|DAILY BEAST

That's Spunky Pete and no other,' says I, tumbling into my clothes and grabbing a lantern.
Poppea of the Post-Office|Mabel Osgood Wright
Spunky Jack made no reply to this, but took the letter and sat down.
The Four Corners in Japan|Amy Ella Blanchard
"Spunky little sister," encouraged the elder girl, and helped the other to the seat.
The Plow-Woman|Eleanor Gates