spirit 1 of 2

noun

ˈspir-ət How to pronounce spirit (audio)
Definition of spiritnext
1
as in soul
an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power the theological and philosophical belief that the spirit is superior to the body

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mode
a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion had been in a combative spirit all week

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ghost
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people Hamlet's late father appears to him in the form of a spirit and with the revelation that he was in fact murdered

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4
as in liquor
spirits plural a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk a hotel bar that's well stocked with spirits

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spirit

2 of 2

verb

as in to capture

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word spirit distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of spirit are courage, mettle, resolution, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

When might courage be a better fit than spirit?

While the synonyms courage and spirit are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When could mettle be used to replace spirit?

The words mettle and spirit can be used in similar contexts, but mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

In what contexts can resolution take the place of spirit?

Although the words resolution and spirit have much in common, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

How are the words tenacity and resolution related as synonyms of spirit?

Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

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 spirit
Noun
What Christopher Reeve gets so right as the Man of Steel is bringing nuance, kindness and soaring spirit to an American icon – and an alien nurtured to be the best of us. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The release was inspired by a Victorian holiday feast rather than a traditional bourbon flavor profile, creating a spirit meant to evoke roasted meat, evergreen forest, and winter fruit in the same glass. — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
And few designers embody that spirit more vividly than Anna Sui, whose collections return to bohemia’s more eclectic origins. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026 Ahead of its 25th anniversary, the beloved comedy is returning to the big screen for a limited celebration that’s as stylish and spirited as Elle Woods herself. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spirit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirit
  1. soul
  2. mode
  3. ghost
  4. liquor
  5. capture
  6. essence
  7. mood
  8. apparition
Noun
  • But the real coup is Dippold's command of tone, deftly pivoting between nightmarish, surreal, wickedly funny, and soul-stirring modes, sometimes within single scenes.
    — Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
  • The Bible’s message was seen as not only informative but salvific, and the monastic who memorized its words filled his or her soul with divine wisdom.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of soul
Noun
  • To characterize the new mode, Kyle Uckert, SHERLOC’s deputy principal investigator at NASA’s JPL, and his colleagues collected spectra from spare flight optics in their own lab.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026
  • Dick arrives as the Clippers are in rebuild mode following the trade of Leonard.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
Definition of mode
Noun
  • The same applies to the Lake of Tears, which seemed really important when Jim’s ghost showed up to tell Ethan to find it.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The English have to contend with not only the ghost of Maradona’s two goals, but also the altitude in Mexico City, which is about 7,350 feet above sea level.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of ghost
Noun
  • The film was projected under some Christmas lights, which splayed over the liquor.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
  • In 2023, the Ukrainian government sanctioned him for allegedly continuing to engage with Russia, paying taxes to Moscow and facilitating business transactions through his liquor business in Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula which Russia annexed in 2014.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of liquor
Verb
  • Twin brothers Mike and Bob Bryan capture their fourth straight major with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo at Wimbledon.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Surveillance cameras captured a person dressed in dark clothing on a nearby roof overlooking the courtyard less than ten minutes before the killing, prosecutors said in charging documents.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of capture
Noun
  • The intimate hotel opens for the season in mid-to-late April, and encapsulates the essence of Broad Street, which is known for hyper-local boutiques and restaurants.
    — Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • At nighttime, my typical routine is a double-cleanse, essence, Prismatic+, retinol, and richer cream.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 6 July 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Plus, darker tones help muffle visual clutter, creating a calming mood that feels loads richer than your budget might suggest.
    — Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
  • As risk-on mood took hold, gold prices pulled back, though Treasury yields held steady.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of mood
Noun
  • Reports of strange sounds, apparitions, and unexplained encounters continue to attract visitors.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
  • Why then, when discussing body image after weight changes, is our culture reaching for the language of vexing apparitions and death?
    — Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Definition of apparition

Phrases Containing spirit

Browse Nearby Words

spires
spirit
spirit (away or off)
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Cite this Entry

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

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Nglish: Translation of spirit for Spanish Speakers

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