[1655–65; mettle + -some1]This word is first recorded in the period 1655–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: contour, grille, minimum, neutralize, patrol-some is a native English suffix formerly used in the formation of adjectives. Other wordsthat use the affix -some include: awesome, lonesome, noisome, toothsome, venturesome
Examples of 'mettlesome' in a sentence
mettlesome
One admires the richness of her vocal resources, the brilliant top, the mettlesome timbre.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Synonyms of 'mettlesome'
courageous, daring, dashing, bold
More Synonyms of mettlesome
(adjective)
She was bright and mettlesome - a real go-getter.
Synonyms
courageous
She is clearly a very tough and courageous woman.
daring
a daring rescue attempt
dashing
She imagines her father as a dashing pilot.
bold
She becomes a bold, daring rebel.
lively
She had a sweet, lively personality.
vigorous
The choir and orchestra gave a vigorous performance of Haydn's oratorio.
fiery
brisk
The horse broke into a brisk trot.
ardent
game (informal)
They were the only ones game enough to give it a try.
feisty (informal)
At 66, she was as feisty as ever.
valiant
valiant attempts by neighbours and firefighters to rescue them
plucky
The plucky schoolgirl amazed doctors by hanging on to life.
high-spirited
Her high-spirited demeanour was not ideally suited for palace life.
sprightly
the sprightly 85-year-old president
frisky
His horse was feeling frisky.
mettled
(as) game as Ned Kelly (Australian, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bold
Definition
courageous, confident, and fearless
She becomes a bold, daring rebel.
Synonyms
fearless,
enterprising,
brave,
daring,
heroic,
adventurous,
courageous,
gritty,
gallant,
gutsy (slang),
audacious,
intrepid,
valiant,
plucky,
undaunted,
unafraid,
unflinching,
dauntless,
ballsy (taboo, slang),
lion-hearted,
valorous
in the sense of brisk
Definition
lively and quick
The horse broke into a brisk trot.
Synonyms
quick,
lively,
energetic,
active,
vigorous,
animated,
bustling,
speedy,
nimble,
agile,
sprightly,
vivacious,
spry
in the sense of daring
Definition
willing to do things that may be dangerous
a daring rescue attempt
Synonyms
brave,
bold,
adventurous,
rash,
have-a-go (informal),
reckless,
fearless,
audacious,
intrepid,
impulsive,
valiant,
plucky,
game (informal),
daredevil,
ballsy (taboo, slang),
venturesome,
(as) game as Ned Kelly (Australian, slang)
Nearby words of
mettlesome
metropolis
metropolitan
mettle
mettlesome
mewl
miasma
microbe
Synonyms of 'mettlesome'
mettlesome
Explore 'mettlesome' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dashing
She imagines her father as a dashing pilot.
Synonyms
bold,
spirited,
daring,
exuberant,
gallant,
plucky,
swashbuckling,
debonair
in the sense of feisty
Definition
frisky
At 66, she was as feisty as ever.
Synonyms
fiery,
spirited,
active,
bold,
lively,
sparkling,
vigorous,
energetic,
animated,
have-a-go (informal),
courageous,
ardent,
game,
plucky,
high-spirited,
sprightly,
vivacious,
spunky (informal),
mettlesome,
(as) game as Ned Kelly (Australian, slang)
in the sense of frisky
Definition
lively, high-spirited, or playful
His horse was feeling frisky.
Synonyms
lively,
spirited,
romping,
playful,
bouncy,
high-spirited,
rollicking,
in high spirits,
full of beans (informal),
coltish,
kittenish,
frolicsome,
ludic (literary),
sportive,
full of joie de vivre
in the sense of game
Definition
full of fighting spirit
They were the only ones game enough to give it a try.
Synonyms
brave,
courageous,
dogged,
spirited,
daring,
bold,
persistent,
gritty,
fearless,
feisty (informal),
persevering,
intrepid,
valiant,
plucky,
unflinching,
dauntless,
ballsy (taboo, slang),
heroic,
valorous,
(as) game as Ned Kelly (Australian, slang)
in the sense of high-spirited
Definition
lively and wishing to have fun and excitement
Her high-spirited demeanour was not ideally suited for palace life.
Synonyms
lively,
spirited,
vivacious,
vital,
daring,
dashing,
bold,
energetic,
animated,
vibrant,
exuberant,
bouncy,
boisterous,
fun-loving,
ebullient,
sparky,
effervescent,
alive and kicking,
full of life,
spunky (informal),
full of beans (informal),
frolicsome,
mettlesome
in the sense of lively
Definition
vivacious or animated
She had a sweet, lively personality.
Synonyms
animated,
spirited,
quick,
keen,
active,
alert,
dynamic,
sparkling,
vigorous,
cheerful,
energetic,
outgoing,
merry,
upbeat (informal),
brisk,
bubbly,
nimble,
agile,
perky,
chirpy (informal),
sparky,
sprightly,
vivacious,
frisky,
gay (old-fashioned),
alive and kicking,
spry,
chipper (informal),
blithe,
full of beans (informal),
frolicsome,
full of pep (informal),
blithesome,
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
in the sense of plucky
Definition
courageous
The plucky schoolgirl amazed doctors by hanging on to life.
Synonyms
courageous,
spirited,
brave,
daring,
bold,
game (old-fashioned),
hardy,
heroic,
gritty,
feisty (informal),
gutsy (slang),
intrepid,
valiant,
doughty (old-fashioned),
undaunted,
unflinching,
spunky (informal, old-fashioned),
ballsy (slang),
mettlesome,
(as) game as Ned Kelly (Australian, slang)
in the sense of sprightly
Definition
lively and active
the sprightly 85-year-old president
Synonyms
lively,
spirited,
active,
energetic,
animated,
brisk,
nimble,
agile,
jaunty,
gay (old-fashioned),
perky,
vivacious,
spry,
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
in the sense of valiant
Definition
very brave
valiant attempts by neighbours and firefighters to rescue them
Synonyms
brave,
heroic,
courageous,
bold,
worthy,
fearless,
gallant,
intrepid,
plucky,
doughty (old-fashioned),
indomitable,
redoubtable,
dauntless,
lion-hearted,
valorous,
stouthearted (old-fashioned)
in the sense of vigorous
Definition
having physical or mental energy
The choir and orchestra gave a vigorous performance of Haydn's oratorio.