Spirited

easyPositive tone

SPIR-ih-tid

adjective

Definition

Full of energy, enthusiasm, and determination

Memory hook

SPIRIT-ed: full of fighting SPIRIT - like a small team giving 110% against a giant opponent.

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Word roots

spiritusbreath, spirit(Latin)

Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.

Examples

The team put up a spirited defense in the final minutes.
Her spirited debate performance impressed the judges.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

The team put up a ______ defense in the final minutes.
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spirited

Synonyms

livelyvivaciousanimatedvigorous

Antonyms

listlessapatheticlethargicdispirited

Categories

View all Energy words

GRE Tip

Spirited is a easy-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "lively" or "vivacious" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "listless".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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