Mettlesome — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Mettlesome (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. having much high-spirited energy and movement

   "the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up"

   similar: active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, lively, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, on the go
   related: dapper, dashing, spiffy, agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake, agile, nimble, spry, bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, chirrupy, effervescent, sparkly, upbeat, eager, enthusiastic, keen, frolicsome, impish, pixieish, playful, boisterous, bubbly, ebullient, exuberant, high-spirited, high-strung, nervous, skittish
   opposite: dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid
   near: indolent, lazy, unambitious, inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary, apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid, boring, dull, irksome, tedious

2. marked by a lively display of strong feeling

   "a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools"

   similar: fiery, gingery, high-spirited, peppery, spirited, spunky
   related: aggressive, ambitious, assertive, high-pressure, in-your-face, militant, pushy, animate, animated, bouncing, bouncy, brisk, energetic, feisty, frisky, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, peppy, perky, pert, racy, scrappy, snappy, spanking, sparky, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, ardent, fervent, impassioned, passionate, emphatic, obtrusive
   opposite: halfhearted, leaden, spiritless
   near: bloodless, boring, dull, lifeless, dead, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, limp, listless, inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid, low-pressure, nonassertive, unaggressive, unambitious, unassertive, unenterprising