adj

spunky

SPUHNG-kee

Spunky (adj) means Spirited, plucky, and full of courage. Example: “The spunky heroine refuses to back down from a challenge.”

adj

Spirited, plucky, and full of courage.

"The spunky heroine refuses to back down from a challenge."

"Their spunky terrier barks at dogs three times its size."

How to use spunky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFull of pluck and courage, often used affectionately about someone feisty.

When to use it

Informal; note it also has a vulgar British slang sense related to "spunk" (semen), so context matters.

Common pairings

spunky heroine spunky little dog

Word forms

spunkier comparative, spunkys plural, spunkies plural, spunkiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “spunky” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ heroine refuses to back down from a challenge.

Rhymes for spunky

junky funky hunky punky chunky

See all rhymes for spunky →

Frequently asked questions

What does “spunky” mean?

The word “spunky” means spirited, plucky, and full of courage. In plain terms, full of pluck and courage, often used affectionately about someone feisty.

How do you pronounce “spunky”?

“Spunky” is pronounced SPUHNG-kee (/ˈspʌŋki/ in IPA).

How do you use “spunky” in a sentence?

Here is “spunky” used in a sentence: “The spunky heroine refuses to back down from a challenge.”

What part of speech is “spunky”?

“Spunky” is an adjective.