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Glite Dictionary
pert

pert

2 7.1
Lively and a little playful in an attractive way
  • adjective
  • /pɜrt/
translation icon : vivaz
  • Her pert personality made her the life of the party.
  • look pert
  • small and pert
  • so pert

And I also like the fact that once this is on, it doesn't fade, it lasts, it stays pert.

Examples

  • Mitzi trailed along after, looking so pert, cheery, and helpful that Cherisse wanted to take Mitzi and a box of Girl Scout cookies and—

    Fiction book (1997)

  • She is blond and pert, flushed with urgency.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Her nose was small and pert.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • "Pert and perfect, Carol," she thought.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • - She's pert, if you like pert.

    Let It Ride (1989)

  • "She's as pert as we were some years back.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The house looked pert, unsmudged white.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Her wit is both pert and dull.

    Academic text (2016)

  • "I'm right pert," he chuckled.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • I saw, leaning down toward me from ten feet away, a small, pert bird with yellow spectacles and a patch of pale yellow from chin to middle of belly: a yellow-throated vireo, a bird I usually hear high in the treetops early in May as it migrates through.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

perky
vspert
45 4.1

Cheerful and full of energy

has the same cheerfulness but with a slightly cheeky edge
saucy
vspert
  • Informal
21 5.8

Being playful and a little rude in a way that teases people

is lively and attractive but only a little irreverent
effervescent
vspert
5 7.1

Having lively, cheerful energy that makes others feel excited

shows similar liveliness but includes a hint of irreverent charm
piquant
vspert
1 8.0

A lively, slightly surprising quality that makes comments or people interesting

leans toward playful cheekiness and mild disrespect rather than just tasteful interest

Antonyms

serious
452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

dull
182 1.3

Not interesting or lively

How Playful

saucy
  • Informal
21 5.8
cheeky
  • Informal
33 4.8
pert
2 7.1
lively
111 1.3

Surface Forms

pert positive

Etymology

The word pert comes from an old word meaning 'lively' or 'bold', and you can see the same idea in the common English word perky. So, to be pert is to be attractively lively, energetic, and a little cheeky.