vivacious
adjective
Did you know?
Vivacious may not be onomatopoeic in a strict sense, but there’s definitely something lively—maybe even a bit va-va-voom—in the way its three syllables trip off the tongue. Perhaps this is why it has appealed to English speakers since the mid-1600s, when it was formed from the Latin adjective vivax meaning “long-lived, vigorous, or high-spirited.” Vivax comes from the verb vivere, meaning “to live.” Other English descendants of vivere include survive, revive, and victual—all of which came to life during the 15th century—and vivid and convivial, both of which surfaced around the same time as vivacious. Somewhat surprisingly, the word live is unrelated; it comes to us from the Old English word libban.
Examples of vivacious in a Sentence
Jane Jacobs, Cities and the Wealth of Nations, (1984) 1985
You see, for years I have built my figure on the premise that "fat people are jolly." I have eaten my way through: pleasant, cheery, sunny, smiling, gay, spirited, chipper, vivacious, sparkling, happy, and sportive and was well on my way to becoming hysterical.
—Erma Bombeck, The Best of Bombeck, (1965) 1967
She could follow every word that the ramblers uttered. They were talking no secrets. They were merely indulging in the ordinary vivacious chat of relatives who have long been parted in person though not in soul.
—Thomas Hardy, The Return of the Native, 1878
an outgoing, vivacious girl who became a successful sales rep
the poem is a vivacious expression of his love for her
Stephen Daw, Billboard, 15 Apr. 2025
The tour concludes in Cartagena, a vivacious and historically rich city that was once a major port during the transatlantic slave trade.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025
Kenneth Branagh’s vivacious and clever Cinderella (2015), Bill Condon’s joyous, gonzo Beauty and the Beast (2017), Rob Marshall’s practically perfect Mary Poppins Returns (2018): all of these films stand proudly on the shoulders of their predecessors rather than noisily trying to improve upon them.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Clad in red, Sol arrived on stage at nearly 8:45 and illuminated the room with her vivacious touch and dulcet vocals.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vivacious
Cite this Entry
“Vivacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vivacious. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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vivacious
adjective
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