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Glite Dictionary
feistiness

feistiness

2 7.0
A lively, bold attitude that shows readiness to argue or fight
  • noun
  • /ˈfaɪstɪnəs/
translation icon : vitalidad
  • Buck was amused at Rayford's feistiness in light of the situation.
  • admired her feistiness

Not only is the likeness so uncanny, she has all of Princess Anne's feistiness.

Examples

  • The children displayed their feistiness during the soccer match, showing great energy and zeal.

  • Her feistiness in the debate impressed everyone in the audience.

  • "Yeah," Rush completed the thought, "the heat of the issues, the feistiness of the campaign."

    Fiction book (1992)

  • There is an incredible amount of magic and feistiness in black men that nobody has been able to wipe out.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I like your feistiness, your Tara-like pride.

    The Prince of Tides (1991)

  • I love Amaro's drive and feistiness right now.

    Blog text (13)

  • I smiled at the magic and feistiness of my eightysomething-year-old grandmother.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • They have an aura of feistiness and tradition that is rare in the N.B.A. now that so many teams are made and unmade each off-season.

    Blog text (10)

  • But the feistiness was gone—the arrogance had waned.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Despite his small size, the puppy's feistiness made him a fierce protector of his home.

Synonyms

scrappiness
vsfeistiness
1 6.3

Trying hard and not giving up when facing bigger or stronger opponents

is broader and describes combative energy not limited to underdog situations
spunkiness
vsfeistiness
  • Informal
5.5

Being lively and brave with cheerful energy

is more combative and ready to fight rather than simply brave

Antonyms

apathy
43 6.2

A lack of interest or care about things

lethargy
12 6.3

A feeling of tiredness and low energy

How Spirited

feistiness
2 7.0
liveliness
3 3.4
mildness
1 3.3

Surface Forms

feistiness singular
feistinesses plural

Morphology

feistiness = feisty (transparent) = feisty + ness

Standard nominalization of the adjective 'feisty' with the productive suffix '-ness', yielding the quality or state denoted by the adjective.

Etymology

The word feistiness comes from the old word feist, a name for a small, lively dog that would 'snap' or 'fight' even though it was tiny, giving a clear picture of bold energy. So feistiness means having that brave, lively, and ready-to-stand-up-for-yourself attitude.