" mettlesome "

1: having much high-spirited energy and movement;

  * e.g., " ... the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up "

•  Synonyms : 

•  active,

•  airy,

•  animate,

•  animated,

•  bouncing,

•  brisk,

•  energetic,

•  frisky,

•  gay,

•  jaunty,

•  jazzy,

•  kinetic,

•  lively,

•  peppy,

•  perky,

•  pert,

•  pizzazzy,

•  racy,

•  snappy,

•  spanking,

•  sparky,

•  spirited,

•  sprightly,

•  springy,

•  vital,

•  vivacious,

•  zippy

•  Antonyms : 

•  dead,

•  inactive,

•  inanimate,

•  lackadaisical,

•  languid,

•  languishing,

•  languorous,

•  leaden,

•  lifeless,

•  limp,

•  listless,

•  spiritless,

•  vapid

2: marked by a lively display of strong feeling;

  * e.g., " ... a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools "

•  Synonyms : 

•  fiery,

•  gingery,

•  high-spirited,

•  peppery,

•  spirited,

•  spunky

•  Antonyms : 

•  halfhearted,

•  leaden,

•  spiritless