gutsier; gutsiest
1
: marked by courage, pluck, or determination
a gutsy little fighter
a gutsy decision
2
a
: expressing or characterized by basic physical senses or passions
gutsy macho talk
gutsy country blues
b
: rough or plain in style : not bland or sophisticated
a gutsy soup
gutsily adverb
gutsiness noun

Examples of gutsy in a Sentence

That was a very gutsy decision. a gutsy coach willing to let her team improvise on the court
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Matt Cloonan and Will Rozman each had 12 kills for Needham in a gutsy win, while Andrew Kurdziel added seven kills and four blocks, and the team defense once again proved strong. Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 23 May 2025 Aledo freshman Tempe Perry took over for McKean in the first inning; Tempe Perry allowed one earned run through the sixth inning in a gutsy performance, but the offense couldn’t climb back after the first-inning blunders. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2025 This week: a gutsy stand-up special from Sarah Silverman, a new installment of Fear Street, and some saucy reality TV. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 May 2025 In music, there was the replacement of the defiant and gutsy female icons of the ’80s and early ’90s — Madonna, Janet Jackson, Kathleen Hanna — with Y2K pop’s much younger and less opinionated girls: Spears, Jessica Simpson, Christina Aguilera. Maya Salam, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gutsy

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gutsy was circa 1893

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gutsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gutsy. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

gutsy

adjective
gutsier; gutsiest
: aggressively tough : courageous
a gutsy decision
a gutsy hockey player
gutsiness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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