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animated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of animate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective animated contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of animated are gay, lively, sprightly, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

When can gay be used instead of animated?

While in some cases nearly identical to animated, gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

When is lively a more appropriate choice than animated?

Although the words lively and animated have much in common, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

When would sprightly be a good substitute for animated?

The words sprightly and animated can be used in similar contexts, but sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

When might vivacious be a better fit than animated?

The synonyms vivacious and animated are sometimes interchangeable, but vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of animated
Adjective
The animated film, which debuted on the streaming service in June, has become Netflix’s most popular film of all time, with more than 325 million views worldwide. Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025 But their tunes were mostly vectors for trippy music videos and animated visuals. Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
Not so much through the improv that has always animated his game but through all the possibilities of the play as designed. Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025 But seeing Scherzer grow animated as Schneider approached, shortstop Andrés Giménez backed off. Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for animated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animated
Adjective
  • In his work, everything is animate, everything has a soul, everything has a story.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025
  • In his account of an Essex owl evening, all senses seem to merge, and all distinction between animate and inanimate disappears.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Four years, later, Guillory opened a second store in New Orleans’ Central Business District, a streetcar ride away from fashionable Magazine Street and the buzzing French Quarter.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Nov. 2025
  • With historical sights like the Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace brushing up against buzzing bars and lively cafes, Ottoman-era mosques a short walk from contemporary art museums, and traditional carpet shops around the corner from trendy boutiques, Istanbul is a place where old and new coexist.
    Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • When the researchers stimulated autophagy, the problem improved.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Puzzle and activity feeders mimic natural hunting behavior and keep cats mentally stimulated.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • My appetite for more Lee is low, but Harjo’s Tulsa — cynical and lively at the same time — simmers with more to say.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Lomax not only wrote the song but also stars in the commercial, which portrays him enjoying the Biggie Bag combo meal, a scene that turns into a lively celebration of music and food.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • At 40 of the country’s busiest airports, flights coming and going will be reduced by 10% this week.
    The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The shutdown’s ripple effects spread across nearly every part of the air travel network Friday, with the nation’s busiest airports hit hardest.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Raja’s energetic narration is relentlessly funny, even (or especially) when it’s turned to dark or disturbing events from his past.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • But Isaacman has also garnered broad support within the commercial space industry, where he’s perceived as an energetic outsider ready to usher NASA into a new era.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Here, vibrant colors combine to complete a mosaic of flowers and trees that extends far into the distance.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The silky maxidress was wholly evocative of the holiday season, with a vibrant color that referenced popular shades of green and red often associated with the Christmas holiday.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Highly active world Enceladus is a highly active world, with a global, salty sub-surface ocean, believed to be the source of its heat.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
  • During inquiries, the ICO found 178 active email accounts using passwords identical or similar to those set by the organization’s IT desk when the account was activated.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Animated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animated. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.

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