as in to stimulate
to give life, vigor, or spirit to
Mr. Clark animates history for his sixth graders by frequently showing up for class dressed like some famous historical figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in animated
having much high-spirited energy and movement
an animate dance routine that will really get the blood pumping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in breathing
having or showing life
had a dream about a sandwich that becomes animate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of animate
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 4 Jan. 2026
By turns greeting visitors and barring their entry to the museum, the performers animated the building while desacralizing the quasi-religious majesty and vaulted proportions of Mies’s design.
—Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
The research found that cats exposed to programs showing animate and inanimate forms of movement—rather than human activity or blank screens—spent significantly more time looking at television monitors.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for animate
Verb
Sculptural silhouettes and saturated color turn everyday objects into small works of art—pieces that catch the light, shift with the angle, and animate a room.
—Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 4 Jan. 2026
By turns greeting visitors and barring their entry to the museum, the performers animated the building while desacralizing the quasi-religious majesty and vaulted proportions of Mies’s design.
—Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
In his account of an Essex owl evening, all senses seem to merge, and all distinction between animate and inanimate disappears.
—Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
The research found that cats exposed to programs showing animate and inanimate forms of movement—rather than human activity or blank screens—spent significantly more time looking at television monitors.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for animate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animate
Verb
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Rather than activating the olfactory nerve, the system stimulates the trigeminal nerve, a sensory pathway in the nasal cavity responsible for conveying touch, temperature, and irritation.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2026
-
These channels are tuned to trigger a voltage spike and tell the trap to close only if stimulated multiple times in rapid succession.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The show's only limit is its imagination, as fans have already seen Captain Pike and his crew delight in musical and animated episodes.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
2 Jan. 2026
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The sequel, which has the Ghostbusters facing off with the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian and his profoundly negative vibes, ends in a joyous celebration that brings the Big Apple together while an animated Statue of Liberty stomps to the rescue.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Chabada For a livelier scene, head to the main drag along Platja de l’Arenal to find Chabada.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
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The style throughout, irrespective of category, is lively without being hectic, a pleasing postmodern blend of contemporary, midcentury, and roughly Victorian elements.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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By March 20, bills must pass a full chamber and a full committee in the opposite chamber to remain alive.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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The offense needs to put something together here to keep its hopes of playing for the national title alive.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Practical courage lifts your finances as energetic Mars squares vulnerable Chiron in your 2nd House of Accounting, guiding you to spend wisely while respecting personal values.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
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The class of 2026 under France coach Didier Deschamps is a mix of energetic youth and experienced heads with Dembélé poised to be one of the leading figures alongside fellow striker Kylian Mbappé.—
Amanda Davies,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Benn, a 17-year veteran, played with a visor for the first time in 1,216 career games, leaving Nashville center Ryan O'Reilly, Minnesota defenseman Zach Bogosian, and Sharks winger Ryan Reaves as the last three active players who have never worn a visor in an NHL game.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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According to Moore, crews believe the fire had been fully extinguished after follow-up checks found no active flames, even as high winds later reignited embers buried in the root system.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Animate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animate. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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