sprightly

adjective spright·ly \-lē\

: full of life and energy

spright·li·erspright·li·est

Full Definition of SPRIGHTLY

: marked by a gay lightness and vivacity : spirited <a sprightly musical>

: having a distinctively piquant taste : zesty <a sprightly salsa>

— spright·li·ness noun

— sprightly adverb

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Origin of SPRIGHTLY

obsolete spright (sprite), alteration of sprite

First Known Use: 1596

Related to SPRIGHTLY

Synonyms: active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy (or pizazzy), racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, lively, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy

Antonyms: dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid

Synonym Discussion of SPRIGHTLY

lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited. lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy <a lively debate on the issues>. animated applies to what is spirited and active <an animated discussion of current events>. vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring <a vivacious party host>. sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit <a tuneful, sprightly musical>. gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits <the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s>.