animal spirits

NOUN

liveliness

Synonyms

WEAK

bounce energy exuberance frolicsomeness life nervous spirits sportiveness spriteliness vitality vivacity zing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Failing to incorporate animal spirits into the model can blind us to the real sources of trouble.”

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

None of this means that the investment markets’ performance is always driven by animal spirits.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

There is some space for green shoots to sprout now, or at least for the animal spirits of the economy to emerge from non-stop chaos.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2025

Hartnett also referenced the troubles in credit and private equity as examples of peak liquidity and animal spirits.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 21, 2025

I was young, and, despite dread, full of animal spirits; it was impossible for me to take a dark view too long.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides