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.
At the heart of her third album, there is a clear aim: to make gutsy, punchy pop perfection that establishes her maturity. Brendan Le, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025 The 'real talk' post Everyone loves a gutsy comeback. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 Suddenly, after such a gutsy fight, any hope of USC’s season surviving had slipped away in a 76-71 loss to Purdue. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2025 But Ohs’ challenging new alternative to more standard genre fare is still enjoyable as a fresh and gutsy experiment. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Mar. 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 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

gutsy

adjective
gutsier; gutsiest
: aggressively tough : courageous
a gutsy decision
a gutsy hockey player
gutsiness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!