Fair, generous, and gracious toward others in competition or disagreement.
Reach for it when praising conduct that protects goodwill even when someone wants to win
The sporting captain applauded the opponent who had overturned her record.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
playful
Fits when cheerful willingness to take part or accept a challenge matters
Careful Being game says nothing about fairness once competition starts.
everyday
Fits when rules and equal treatment are the main concern
Careful A person can obey every rule without the warmth of sporting conduct.
everyday
Fits when friendliness survives teasing or rivalry
Careful Good temper alone does not ensure fair play.
warm
Fits when giving credit or advantage to an opponent stands out
Careful Generosity outside rivalry does not establish a sporting attitude.
warm
Fits when generosity of manner in victory or defeat is visible
Careful Gracious applies broadly and does not specifically invoke fair competition.
professional
sportsmanlike
Fits when the context is literally competitive and conventional
Careful Its gendered form can be awkward; sporting is shorter and broader.
formal
Fits when moral integrity under pressure deserves weight
Careful It may sound grand for a friendly game.
literary
Fits when noble courtesy in defeat has a deliberately old-fashioned tone
Careful It can sound theatrical or gendered in modern workplace praise.
sporting gesture
Allowing the delayed runner a fresh start was a sporting gesture.
sporting chance
The revised schedule gave the smallest school a sporting chance.
sporting opponent
A sporting opponent, Vesa pointed out the scorekeeper's error in her own favor.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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