moxie

MAWK-see

meaning in plain English

Picture a small dog that barks at a huge truck and never backs down; that bold, stubborn energy is what we call moxie.

Picture a tiny firecracker named moxie that refuses to be silenced.

for example

She showed real moxie when she walked into the manager’s office and asked for a raise.

In other words, moxie is the guts to act brave even when you’re scared. Think of a teenager stepping on stage to sing despite shaking hands—that’s pure moxie.