The answer that fits “lively spirit” in the New York Times crossword is usually ELAN. It means energy, enthusiasm, or flair. This word is commonly used in puzzles because it’s short, versatile, and matches the clue well.
Yeah, that one pops up a lot NYT usually leans toward “pep” or “vim” for “lively spirit,” but I’ve seen “elan” too—depends on the letter count and crosses.