feisty
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
full of energy, confidence, and spirit.
characterised by a lively, spirited, and courageous personality.
Simple“The feisty kitten hissed at the large dog to protect its food.”
In context“Even at ninety, the grandmother remained feisty, regularly challenging her doctors' advice and insisting on walking to the market alone.”
UsageOften used to describe children, elderly people, or small animals who show surprising strength of character.
Teacher's tipWhile usually a compliment, it can sometimes sound slightly patronising because it implies the person's strength is surprising or cute.
- 02 C1 Advanced
quick to get angry or start an argument.
prone to bickering or becoming easily offended; belligerent in a minor way.
Simple“He was feeling feisty after a long day and started arguing about the dinner menu.”
In context“The debate turned feisty as the candidates began interrupting each other with increasingly sharp personal remarks.”
UsageUsually describes a temporary mood or a personality trait that leads to frequent small conflicts.
Teacher's tipIn this sense, the word is closer to 'cranky' or 'argumentative' than 'brave'.
1896, American, feist (“small, aggressive dog”) + -y; the term feist (now rare) itself originally meant “stink”, and earlier “fart”, from Middle English, from Old English, from Proto-Germanic, presumably from Proto-Indo-European – see feist for details.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.