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Definition of feistily

feistily

/ˈfaɪ.stə.li/
feis · ti · ly
Adjective:feisty
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feistily Lexical Profile

feistily Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a lively, determined, and spiritedly combative or courageous manner, especially despite being small or at a disadvantage.

Example

"The young candidate defended her policy proposals feistily during the televised debate."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

feign
feijoa
feint
feistily
feistiness
feisty
felicia

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the adjective 'feisty' plus '-ly'; 'feisty' derives from the American dialect noun 'feist' (a small, aggressive dog), which goes back to obsolete English 'fist' meaning 'a foul smell' or 'flatulence', from Old English 'fisting'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Feistily. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/feistily
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