adj
feisty
FYS-tee
adj
1
Full of spirit and energy; not afraid to stand up for oneself.
"The feisty toddler refused to leave the playground."
"She gave a feisty response to the reporter's question."
How to Use Feisty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSpunky and quick to stand up for yourself, often used approvingly for someone small but tough.
Common pairings
feisty attitude
a feisty little dog
feisty personality
Word Forms
feistier comparative, more feisty comparative, feistiest superlative, most feisty superlative
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The _____ toddler refused to leave the playground.
Etymology
Comes from the American word feist, an old term for a small, aggressive dog, itself traced back to an Old English word meaning "fart" — plus the ending -y.