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 Ellison and his team must braid together two huge film studios (housing nine film labels), four streaming services, three TV production studios, three animation units and more than 50 television networks, including two prominent news organizations. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The song was written for Wildwood, the upcoming stop motion fantasy from animation studio LAIKA based on frontman Colin Meloy’s best-selling novel. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026 Archival photographs subtly come to life through animation, giving motion to otherwise static images and drawing a visual line from the people living through Reconstruction to those living now. — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 Founded three decades ago as Women In Animation, WIA’s mission is to continue building a more equitable, innovative, and inclusive future for animation worldwide. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 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
  • At the same time, the star’s brightness seemed to dim periodically, suggesting an orbiting planet.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The display’s brightness was more of an issue than its color coverage.
    — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 4 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
  • Willa’s look contrasted her mom’s with youthful exuberance defined by pops of color.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The industrial revolutions of the past produced enormous value alongside bankruptcies, dislocations, and periods of irrational exuberance.
    — Brian Solis, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of exuberance
Noun
  • 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
  • Kikuko sometimes mistook Shigejiro’s cheerfulness for egoism owing to the distortions produced by her illness.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • For many years, the Loop has felt emptied of life at the end of the workday, and there have been recent efforts to restore a sense of vibrancy even in the evening hours.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Yannick Nézet-Séguin nudges the orchestra’s warmth and saturation into territory that, if not quite gaudy, is certainly gala-worthy, privileging vibrancy over darkness.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of vibrancy
Noun
  • Treatments follow Thai, Chinese, and Indian healing methods, and the cavernous aqua-therapy lounge with sauna and vitality pool is a blissful hangout after a massage.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For readers who treat daily routines as compounding investments in long-term vitality, the oral microbiome has become hard to ignore.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 5 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 12 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on animation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about animation

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