spunk

Unlike the new kid who’s got spunk and talent, Sonny has the competence to back up his flair.

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2025

Owing to her Western spunk, talent for deduction, ability to identify a tobacco scent Holmes cannot and the detective’s need for a sidekick, she’s made his assistant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025

Lorelai’s spunk is presented as a secret to her success: Having been a teen mom, she drips with “up by your bootstraps” energy.

From Slate ● Apr. 14, 2025

She did a good job of bringing Winehouse’s spunk, vulnerability and big-as-her-hair personality to the screen; a scene of her getting emotional in the studio while recording the song “Back to Black” was particularly moving.

From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024

The man had character and spunk and Bloom had considered him an attractive original, had always known he was the real McCoy.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

But I ain't got to the wonders none as yet,' reemonstrates the Colonel, who spunks up a bit peevish for him.

From Wolfville Nights by Alfred Henry Lewis

She spunks up and her eyes sparkles whenever she thinks about that there tobaccer trust.

From Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis

He looked hard at me wi' a pair o' een that glowed like twa spunks, and then he says, says he: "You've been born in these pairts, I understan'?"

From The Mystery of Cloomber by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Then some person invented strips of wood dipped in sulphur and called "spunks."

From Home Life in Colonial Days by Alice Morse Earle

The Advocate, who is not without some spunks of a remainder decency, has wrung your life-safe out of Simon and the Duke.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 11 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson