kinetic

adjective

kə-ˈne-tik How to pronounce kinetic (audio)
Definition of kineticnext
1
as in energetic
having much high-spirited energy and movement the novel's plot is kinetic and fast-paced, and its effect on the reader is much like that of a surfeit of caffeine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity the loft district is the locus of the city's kinetic arts scene

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 kinetic Moreover, large mammals reuse significant shares of energy spent running, because a part of the kinetic and potential energy deployed to run is temporarily stored as elastic strain in muscles and tendons and redeployed as elastic recoil. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026 The brief clip showed off a new cast of characters, beginning with fuzzy television static before exploding into a montage propelled by intense music and kinetic bursts of action, carrying on the spirit of the first season through energetic animation and heavily stylised art. — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 23 June 2026 Onboard mechanical systems convert the kinetic movement of waves into a steady supply of electricity, establishing a continuous power source that functions independently of weather-dependent terrestrial renewables like solar or wind. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026 Such reconnaissance could provide vital information before intercepting a threatening asteroid with a kinetic impact, as demonstrated by NASA's DART mission in 2022. — Andrew Jones, Space.com, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for kinetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kinetic
  1. energetic
  2. buzzing
  3. animated
  4. busy
  5. lively
  6. vibrant
  7. active
  8. brisk
Adjective
  • Work with Your Design Style A color this bright and energetic couldn’t possibly be versatile, too, right?
    — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026
  • Brazil were energetic and vertical, Vinicius Junior and Rayan stretched their opponents and Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner was just reward.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of energetic
Adjective
  • Scott Usheroff The wine scene has evolved from hobby industry to a buzzing, blooming viticulture scene.
    — Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • The device will completely block the ear canal and cause a low buzzing noise that makes drifting off hard.
    — Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Definition of buzzing
Adjective
  • Annecy, which was established as a bi-annual event in 1960 and shifted to a yearly event in 1998, hosts a main competition every year, with roughly 10 or so animated films of all types — from 2D to 3D to stop-motion — competing for the Cristal for Best Feature Film.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 26 June 2026
  • The film features an original score by acclaimed composer Christophe Beck, whose iconic work on Disney’s Frozen and Frozen II has resonated with audiences around the world and helped define a generation of animated storytelling.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 June 2026
Definition of animated
Adjective
  • The tribe wants to build a travel center on the land along a busy highway on Long Island.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Because Saturday is typically the busiest day for car sales, most dealerships remain open then and close on Sundays instead.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Definition of busy
Adjective
  • Vibrant banners will fill the land alongside lively Spanish music.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • On East Passyunk Avenue, Supérette is a lively French wine bar, market and bottle shop where rosé and pastis are enjoyed with snacks like duck prosciutto and raclette sandwiches.
    — Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of lively
Adjective
  • With their jewel-like seeds, vibrant color and sweet-tart flavor, pomegranates have long been prized around the world.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • That means little details make a large impact—this chartreuse look could stand well on its own, but the black open-toed heels and sheer tights underneath sharpen the otherwise-vibrant outfit.
    — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of vibrant
Adjective
  • Despite these complexities, active carriers maintain powerful air wings with F/A-18 Super Hornets and other advanced aircraft.
    — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • This Eytino bikini set is comfortable and athletic enough for a long, active day at the beach.
    — Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
Definition of active
Adjective
  • The vineyard is the site of a Christmas tree farm, and tends to be crisp and brisk, like the resulting wines.
    — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 5 July 2026
  • There are brisk 7am forest walks, group yoga, breath work, and a class on Lanserhof healing exercises, which combine stretching, tapping, and movement.
    — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of brisk

Browse Nearby Words

kinds
kinetic
kinfolk
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Kinetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kinetic. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on kinetic

Nglish: Translation of kinetic for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All