Spryness: meaning, definitions and examples

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spryness

 

[ ˈsprɪnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

physical fitness

The quality of being agile and nimble, especially in terms of physical movements.

Synonyms

agility, nimbleness, quickness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
spryness

Often used to describe someone who is lively and full of energy, especially in the context of older individuals who maintain youthful characteristics.

  • Despite being in her seventies, her spryness was impressive as she danced gracefully at the party
agility

Commonly used in sports and fitness contexts to describe physical dexterity and the ability to move quickly and easily.

  • His agility on the soccer field made him one of the team's star players
nimbleness

Usually used to describe the ability to move quickly, lightly, and with ease, often implying mental quickness as well.

  • Her nimbleness allowed her to navigate through the crowded room without spilling a drop of her drink
quickness

General term often used to describe someone’s speed, whether it is physical, mental, or in action. It does not always have a positive context.

  • The quickness of his response caught everyone off guard
  • His quickness to anger was well-known in the office

Examples of usage

  • He demonstrated great spryness in his gymnastics routine.
  • Her spryness on the basketball court impressed all the spectators.
  • The cat's spryness allowed it to easily navigate through the obstacles.
Context #2 | Noun

mental agility

The ability to think and respond quickly and effectively.

Synonyms

agility, quickness, sharpness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
spryness

This appears to be a duplicate; refer to the first entry for 'spryness' context and examples.

agility

Used to describe someone or something that moves quickly and easily, often associated with physical or mental skills.

  • The gymnast's agility on the balance beam was astonishing.
  • Mental agility is key to solving complex problems.
sharpness

Often relates to the acuteness of thought, ability to perceive details, or physical precision. Can have a slightly negative connotation if used to describe someone's manner as being too harsh or direct.

  • The sharpness of her observations made it clear she was paying attention.
  • There was a sharpness in his tone that made everyone uneasy.
quickness

Refers to the speed at which someone or something can move or react. It is general and can be applied to both physical actions and responses.

  • The cat's quickness in catching the mouse was impressive.
  • His quickness in responding to customer complaints saved the day.

Examples of usage

  • His spryness of mind helped him solve the problem in no time.
  • The team's spryness in adapting to new situations was commendable.
  • She relied on her spryness to outsmart her opponents.

Translations

Translations of the word "spryness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 agilidade

🇮🇳 फुर्ती

🇩🇪 Beweglichkeit

🇮🇩 kelincahan

🇺🇦 жвавість

🇵🇱 zwinność

🇯🇵 機敏さ

🇫🇷 agilité

🇪🇸 agilidad

🇹🇷 çeviklik

🇰🇷 민첩성

🇸🇦 رشاقة

🇨🇿 hbitost

🇸🇰 obratnosť

🇨🇳 灵活性

🇸🇮 gibčnost

🇮🇸 lipurð

🇰🇿 ептілік

🇬🇪 სისწრაფე

🇦🇿 çeviklik

🇲🇽 agilidad

Etymology

The word 'spryness' originated from the Middle English word 'sprein', meaning quick or active. Over time, the term evolved to encompass both physical and mental agility, reflecting the importance of quick and nimble movements in various contexts. The concept of spryness has been valued in sports, problem-solving, and everyday tasks, highlighting the significance of being agile and quick-witted.

See also: spry.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,051, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.