spunk

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

“Coastal Funk” brings together work by Robert Arneson, one of funk’s godfathers, and contemporary artists keeping the spunk of funk alive.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 24, 2024

Indeed, Kansara plays Ria with spunk and a youthful vigor that makes it hard not to reminisce on one's own adolescent years.

From Salon ● Apr. 29, 2023

She says, “That’s where you get your spunk and your character,” even though I didn’t grow up there.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2023

I remind myself I am the Virginia with spunk, the Virginia who never rolls belly-up, the Virginia who stands tall like a radish flower.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau

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

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

From David Balfour, Second Part Being Memoirs Of His Adventures At Home And Abroad, The Second Part: In Which Are Set Forth His Misfortunes Anent The Appin Murder; His Troubles With Lord Advocate Grant; Captivity On The Bass Rock; Journey Into Holland And France; And Singular Relations With James More Drummond Or Macgregor, A Son Of The Notorious Rob Roy, And His Daughter Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson

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

From Home Life in Colonial Days by Alice Morse Earle

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

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

From Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis