as in playfully
in a quick and spirited manner
now then, step lively there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in energetic
having much high-spirited energy and movement
the lively puppy was racing around the dining room floor chasing after people's shoelaces
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vibrant
marked by much life, movement, or activity
the party was a lively affair that lasted into the small hours of the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of lively
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
His disdain for Christmas is no match for visits from enchanting ghosts, a lively ensemble of characters, and the music of the season.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
See the lively scene, captured by The Star’s Dominick Williams.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lively
Adverb
The neighborhoods of Alfama and Bairro Alto stay lively late into the night with fado music, good wine, and shared plates.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
His disdain for Christmas is no match for visits from enchanting ghosts, a lively ensemble of characters, and the music of the season.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Olive Nwosu‘s lively, humid debut feature zeroes in on a determined individualist in a city of over 17 million.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
See the lively scene, captured by The Star’s Dominick Williams.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lively
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lively
Adverb
-
Well, the girls invent time machines to travel to the past and question their realities, playfully dealing with such complex issues as gender differences, alcoholism, and religion.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Later in the season, after the Bridgerton sons playfully throw shaving foam at each other, a maid is shown scrubbing the floor, the furniture, and the walls, their fun and folly now her toil.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His interests reflect both his creativity and his energetic spirit.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Some 35 times more energetic than any neutrino seen before, the particle might have shot out from a highly active galaxy — a blazar — or a background source of cosmogenic high-energy particles that scientists suspect pervade the cosmos.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This chic, streamlined Movado watch features a vibrant green dial, complemented by the brand’s minimalist logo.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Many are coated in a vibrant pops of red or blue, while maintaining a lightweight, long-lasting construction.—
Shagun Khare,
Martha Stewart,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
During the trial, many of Cardi's impassioned exchanges with the Janfaza went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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Tang joined Adult Swim in 2012 and contributed to the development of numerous live‑action and animated originals including Joe Pera Talks with You, Royal Crackers, The Eric Andre Show, and the WGA Award-winning Three Busy Debras.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This left a critical unit short-staffed during one of the highest profile searches in PCSD history and during the busiest time of year for Search and Rescue.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
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February is typically a busy month there for winter sports including skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Hours before the awards ceremony, the veteran exec is still sprightly trodding the labyrinthine corridors of the festival home of the International Theatre Amsterdam.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
20 Nov. 2025
-
Rice was playing at an All-Pro level last year before suffering a torn ACL, second-year receiver Xavier Worthy is always improving and even tight end Travis Kelce is appearing more sprightly than last campaign.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Three of the court’s 11 active judges would have granted rehearing, and one dissent is expected to be published at a later date.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Their departure from active group work would leave a void that few current girl groups are positioned to fill, if any.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Nguyen’s main renovations brought the bar from the back of the room to the front, an open window into the buzzing new restaurant.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Once a pivotal railway stop, later the site of world-stage events, like the 1996 Olympic Games, and most recently, a filming epicenter, Conyers has blossomed into a buzzing destination, drawing visitors from across the globe.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lively. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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