Feisty

adj.energetic, resilienteveryday

Meaning 1

Lively, spirited, and ready to meet challenges.

Reach for it when praising bold energy while acknowledging an edge of defiance

The feisty debater defended her proposal with humor and evidence.

everyday
bold
willingness to act is the strength
not when Bold does not convey lively temperament.
warm
plucky
cheerful courage appears despite disadvantage
not when Plucky can patronize an accomplished adult.
warm
spirited
lively courage is wholly positive
not when Spirited softens the readiness to challenge others.
professional
tenacious
persistent effort toward a goal matters
not when Tenacious is steadier and less volatile.

Inclined to be combative or irritable.

Reach for it when naming difficult spiritedness without turning it into praise

The feisty terrier barked whenever another dog approached.

playful
scrappy
underdog energy and willingness to fight suit the tone
not when Scrappy can suggest poor polish.
professional
combative
readiness for conflict causes a problem
not when Combative removes the charm that feisty may retain.
formal
irascible
quick anger is the precise criticism
not when Irascible is about temper, not vigor.
literary
peppery
sharp lively temperament deserves a vivid metaphor
not when Peppery can trivialize serious aggression.

feisty spirit
Her feisty spirit carried the campaign through two setbacks.
feisty debate
A feisty debate exposed the proposal's weak assumptions.
feisty temperament
The rescue dog has a feisty temperament around larger animals.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.