pert
adjective
ˈpərt 
1
a
: saucily free and forward : flippantly cocky and assured
b
: being trim and chic : jaunty
a pert little hat
c
: piquantly stimulating
is a pert notion
2
: lively, vivacious
pertly adverb
pertness noun
Synonyms
- active
- airy
- animate
- animated
- bouncing
- brisk
- energetic
- frisky
- gay
- jaunty
- jazzy
- kinetic
- lively
- mettlesome
- peppy
- perky
- pizzazzy
- pizazzy
- racy
- snappy
- spanking
- sparky
- spirited
- sprightly
- springy
- vital
- vivacious
- zippy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a pert girl who is a member of the cheerleading squad a pert retort that irritated the teacher
Recent Examples on the Web This dichotomy—a pert good girl who longs to be bad, a cheeky bad girl trying her hardest to be good—echoed throughout Newton-John’s long career as an actress and singer. 
Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2022 The airport is three miles away, and the central shopping and dining district is contained within a pert five-block grid. Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2022 Don’t Look Up in a pale blue Gucci suit, standing alongside a beaming, pregnant Jennifer Lawrence, a clean-cut Leonardo Dicaprio, and a pert Meryl Streep. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2021 Ohlsson’s left hand alone exposed any number of passages glossed over by most interpretations, and the orchestra under Blomstedt was a pert, colorful, and utterly cohesive body. Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 2 Aug. 2021 In this recipe, on the other hand, alliums are front and center, with leeks standing upright, pert and proud, and calling unapologetic attention to themselves. New York Times, 16 Apr. 2021 If The Odyssey had been the story of a glamour girl, Doris Lilly would be its pert heroine in a fur chubby endlessly stranded on a sleek banquette. Callahan Tormey, Town & Country, 28 Dec. 2020 On the ’gram, Lipa opted for a sleek white shirt with a tie and jeans, while FKA Twigs wore a pert lime green jacket with a fur trim. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2020 Banana splits, with their tall scoops of ice cream and drizzles of sauce and pert cherries, made frequent appearances in my childhood. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2019 See More
Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2022 The airport is three miles away, and the central shopping and dining district is contained within a pert five-block grid. Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2022 Don’t Look Up in a pale blue Gucci suit, standing alongside a beaming, pregnant Jennifer Lawrence, a clean-cut Leonardo Dicaprio, and a pert Meryl Streep. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2021 Ohlsson’s left hand alone exposed any number of passages glossed over by most interpretations, and the orchestra under Blomstedt was a pert, colorful, and utterly cohesive body. Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 2 Aug. 2021 In this recipe, on the other hand, alliums are front and center, with leeks standing upright, pert and proud, and calling unapologetic attention to themselves. New York Times, 16 Apr. 2021 If The Odyssey had been the story of a glamour girl, Doris Lilly would be its pert heroine in a fur chubby endlessly stranded on a sleek banquette. Callahan Tormey, Town & Country, 28 Dec. 2020 On the ’gram, Lipa opted for a sleek white shirt with a tie and jeans, while FKA Twigs wore a pert lime green jacket with a fur trim. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2020 Banana splits, with their tall scoops of ice cream and drizzles of sauce and pert cherries, made frequent appearances in my childhood. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, evident, attractive, saucy, short for apert evident, from Anglo-French, from Latin apertus open, from past participle of aperire to open
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
pert
adjective
ˈpərt
1
: rude and disrespectful : fresh
2
: perky
pert
adjective
1
as in lively
having much high-spirited energy and movement a pert girl who is a member of the cheerleading squad Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lively
- animated
- energetic
- animate
- active
- brisk
- perky
- bouncing
- sprightly
- enthusiastic
- spirited
- cheerful
- vivacious
- jaunty
- sparky
- awake
- peppy
- playful
- racy
- frisky
- zippy
- springy
- mettlesome
- jazzy
- spanking
- kinetic
- gay
- vital
- airy
- up
- snappy
- agile
- bright
- pizazzy
- eager
- dashing
- pizzazzy
- dapper
- spiffy
- spry
- effervescent
- nimble
- chirpy
- chipper
- impish
- on the go
- sparkly
- bubbly
- buoyant
- alert
- agog
- frolicsome
- exuberant
- ebullient
- upbeat
- boisterous
- keen
- pixieish
- open-eyed
- nervous
- wide-awake
- chirrupy
- skittish
- high-spirited
- high-strung
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- languid
- limp
- vapid
- leaden
- lifeless
- inanimate
- dead
- listless
- inactive
- spiritless
- indolent
- inert
- languishing
- lackadaisical
- lazy
- stolid
- weary
- torpid
- unambitious
- impassive
- languorous
- sluggish
- sleepy
- tired
- phlegmatic
- lethargic
- dull
- apathetic
- irksome
- boring
- tedious
2
as in cute
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred a pert retort that irritated the teacher Synonyms & Similar Words
- cute
- playful
- flippant
- facetious
- wise
- smart
- wiseass
- sassy
- flip
- mischievous
- impish
- impudent
- saucy
- inappropriate
- smart-alecky
- roguish
- cheeky
- smart-assed
- smart-ass
- cocky
- impertinent
- waggish
- smarty-pants
- smart-aleck
- flighty
- rude
- fresh
- frivolous
- glib
- casual
- breezy
- disrespectful
- thoughtless
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sincere
- earnest
- solemn
- serious
- grave
- sober
- sombre
- somber
3
as in piquant
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses a pert suggestion for a truly original marketing campaign Synonyms & Similar Words
- piquant
- zesty
- spicy
- zingy
- pungent
- salty
- delicious
- poignant
- biting
- savory
- racy
- provocative
- savoury
- peppery
- trenchant
- fascinating
- gingery
- hot
- toothsome
- vinegary
- delectable
- luscious
- fiery
- mordant
- keen
- appetizing
- acute
- flavorful
- scrumptious
- interesting
- provoking
- animating
- ambrosial
- cutting
- tasty
- invigorating
- engaging
- enlightening
- gripping
- energizing
- exciting
- arresting
- bitter
- intriguing
- piquing
- galvanizing
- absorbing
- palatable
- engrossing
- riveting
- enthralling
- savorous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- flat
- insipid
- flat
- arid
- dry
- thin
- barren
- leaden
- tasteless
- drab
- stale
- dull
- wearisome
- predictable
- banal
- ponderous
- uninteresting
- zestless
- colorless
- boring
- weak
- stodgy
- tedious
- monotonous
- dreary
- humdrum
- bland
- pedestrian
- flavorless
- watery
- tiring
- numbing
- savorless
- dilute
- wearying
- going to
- going to bat for
- going to be sick
- going to Jerusalem
- going to one's head
- going to pieces
- going to pot
- going to seed
- going to the movies
- going together
- going toward
- going towards
- going train
- going under
- going under the knife
- going up
- going up in flames
- going with
- going without
- going-away
- going-over
- going/getting nowhere fast
- goings
- goings-on
- goings-over