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

Many banks on Wall Street had started 2025 talking about animal spirits in the form of increased mergers and acquisitions and capital markets activity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Nov. 21, 2025

Labour has a job on its hands at conference, and at the Budget, to restore the animal spirits of UK business.

From BBC • Sep. 28, 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