animation

noun

ˌa-nə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce animation (audio)
Definition of animationnext
as in brightness
the quality or state of having abundant or intense activity the animation of any city depends upon an abundance of street-level restaurants, shops, and places of entertainment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 animation At the Annecy animation film festival this year, the studio announced Let’s Go Timmy! — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 Slanted vertical light animations frame an illuminated lightning bolt emblem. — New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026 The industry sees it as a test of mature animation; big studios have avoided greenlighting such films because the rating can cut into toy and merchandise revenue. — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Apple’s Kid Cue takes a page out of Google’s book by using the front screen to play animations designed to get your kid looking at the camera. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for animation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animation
  1. brightness
  2. liveliness
  3. exuberance
  4. cheerfulness
  5. vibrancy
  6. vitality
  7. sprightliness
  8. vibrance
Noun
  • Aside from its brightness, everything else about the BOAT fits the model of a typical long-duration GRB.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Both have somewhat lower brightness ratings, but both add a vertical lens shift, which can help make up for that.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of brightness
Noun
  • At one time, there was a focus on balancing cleanliness and liveliness in a puzzle.
    — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • For all the liveliness and color of McBride’s dialogue, some of his narration can be flat.
    — T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of liveliness
Noun
  • Zest has also been referred to as vitality, exuberance, and joie de vivre, the French phrase for the joy of living.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In that spirit, too, Knight’s film borrows much from the library of fantasy and folklore, but with enough of its own exuberance and imagination to feel like a new standard.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of exuberance
Noun
  • Leaders, in particular, have the power to shift the mood of their teams, not by pretending everything is fine or manufacturing cheerfulness but through tone, body language, and small actions.
    — Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The service Professionalism comes with genuine warmth, cheerfulness, and a sense of people absolutely loving their jobs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • Yellow pops with vibrancy when paired with a contrasting purple, but the same shade of yellow can look soft and inviting if paired with cream.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Standard delivers the full vibrancy of the screen; Color offers a softer, more muted experience; and Ink is full grayscale.
    — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of vibrancy
Noun
  • This amazing energy, the vitality, simply could not be repressed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Zest has also been referred to as vitality, exuberance, and joie de vivre, the French phrase for the joy of living.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of vitality
Noun
  • The company claims a new wheelspin actuator reacts to traction losses notably faster, a sprightliness that’s particularly gratifying when gunning the SE around a corner.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2020
Definition of sprightliness
Noun
  • This sleek, elegant style highlights a deep, rich brown that adds vibrance and dimension to her overall look.
    — Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Produced by Questlove and Black Thought’s Two One Five Entertainment, the show’s interviews have the natural vibrance of a party in an intimate setting, making for often surprising insights.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
Definition of vibrance

Phrases Containing animation

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animating
animation
animator
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Cite this Entry

“Animation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animation. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on animation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about animation

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