feisty

adjective

ˈfī-stē How to pronounce feisty (audio)
Definition of feistynext
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight a feisty hockey player who has spent more than his share of time in the penalty box

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of feisty Its empress was feisty, focused on making money and completely uninterested in the emperor. — Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026 Her rich gentle voice powers songs reminiscent of Kate Bush, Sarah Harmer and Feist, though a feistier Feist. — Michael Hollett, SPIN, 14 June 2026 On that sunny day in Palo Alto, Brazil won 1-0 against the feisty Americans, but not before losing a player to a red card shortly before halftime. — Gabriel Sama, Mercury News, 28 June 2026 The movie follows the life of feisty belle Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh), from growing up on a plantation to her love affairs, including with roguish Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for feisty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feisty
  1. aggressive
  2. militant
  3. hostile
  4. contentious
Adjective
  • The goal is gentle smoke and indirect heat rather than aggressive flames.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Right now, the multi-trillion-dollar global apparel industry is undergoing an aggressive technological shift, adopting artificial intelligence as a production standard rather than an experimental pilot.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Yet Piker himself has followed the DSA’s militant line, repeatedly praising authoritarian regimes such as China’s, Cuba’s, and Russia’s, as well as terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
  • There are also concerns that fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon could escalate once more and derail future talks.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 30 June 2026
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • And until a Black commentator is held responsible for making openly hostile remarks about White people, nothing will change.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • For example, in March, the crypto exchange Kraken put its multibillion‑dollar IPO on hold amid hostile market conditions, according to CoinDesk.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • These groups tackle politically contentious issues like immigration, human rights, and the environment.
    — Michael Posner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • However, the bill was so contentious that in order to squeak it through, legislators stuffed it full of carve-outs and exemptions, allowing cities to delay implementation by passing their own plans to add density.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of contentious

Browse Nearby Words

feistiness
feisty
felicific
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Cite this Entry

“Feisty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feisty. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on feisty

Nglish: Translation of feisty for Spanish Speakers

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