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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vivacious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vivacious are animated, gay, lively, and sprightly. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

When is animated a more appropriate choice than vivacious?

Although the words animated and vivacious have much in common, animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

Where would gay be a reasonable alternative to vivacious?

The words gay and vivacious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

When is it sensible to use lively instead of vivacious?

While in some cases nearly identical to vivacious, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

When could sprightly be used to replace vivacious?

The synonyms sprightly and vivacious are sometimes interchangeable, but sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

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 vivacious Among a few standouts are 35-year-old Brittany, a funny and vivacious partnership executive who does not get nearly enough screen time, and Joey, a goofy 35-year-old physician associate with the Platonic Ideal of a Minnesota accent. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2025 Bold, vivacious and full of promise, Venus sextile Jupiter is about to shake things up in the most exciting way! Valerie Mesa, People.com, 3 June 2025 In a four-episode arc premiering Wednesday, Rodriguez will play Pietro, a vivacious and opinionated party planner hired to help Genoa City royalty Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) plot out her big birthday bash. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 27 May 2025 And while Emond deliberately portrayed Tina early on in her film as vivacious and quirky, Perabo’s character is soon revealed to have deeper complexities and challenges. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for vivacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vivacious
Adjective
  • Astronomers analyzing data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have uncovered a population of tiny, energetic galaxies that may have been key players in clearing the cosmic fog that shrouded the universe after the Big Bang.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 June 2025
  • They are characterized by energetic mark-making, a profound understanding of color, and complex, absorbing compositions.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Here are even more opportunities to honor Stonewall’s legacy while pushing for a more just and joyful future.
    Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025
  • One Cut of the Dead is a joyful, exuberant (and fittingly scrappy) celebration of zombie movie-makers.
    James Grebey, Time, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • For much of the day New Haven Green was filled with a Juneteenth Village and Marketplace, including loud and lively hip-hop acts.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025
  • The small but lively crowd of 14,312 at the Rose Bowl gasped in disbelief as Deossa and his teammates celebrated what instantly became a contender for the goal of the tournament — only to be possibly upstaged by his fellow midfielder Corona nine minutes later.
    Austin Green, New York Times, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • One Cut of the Dead is a joyful, exuberant (and fittingly scrappy) celebration of zombie movie-makers.
    James Grebey, Time, 20 June 2025
  • The typically exuberant crowd fell silent for a few moments Saturday before the folk dance performance kicked off in the major city of La Paz, paying respects to the victims of clashes between protesters and police days earlier that left two civilians and four police officers dead.
    Paola Flores, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • But The Times reported that Depp became more animated when talking about his public battles with his ex-wife Amber Heard, which involved two messy, salacious court fights that focused on her physical abuse allegations and his excessive drinking.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 June 2025
  • And yet, no animated film has had quite the staying power as Spirited Away, which seems likely to make the overall list’s top ten and featured on the lists of Bryce Dallas Howard, Molly Ringwald, and John Turturro.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • The verdict: Lovely, balanced, pleasingly effervescent and perfect for a birthday celebration.
    Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Each flute is handmade from Waterford’s finest luxury crystal and features a narrow bowl, encouraging bubbles to rise to the rim for an effervescent experience.
    Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • The advisory was active for Cabarrus and Rowan counties.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2025
  • It's rapidly become one of Europe's most active firms, drawing capital from powerhouses like J. Rothschild Capital Management and MIT, and boasting a portfolio that includes unicorns like $2 billion Mercor and $1.3 billion LinkTree.
    Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Nest Lychee Rose is bubblier and way more rose-forward, Kayali Sparkling Lychee has more fruit variety but less actual lychee somehow.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 8 June 2025
  • The difference is subtle, but the fine filter creates milk that's a bit bubblier than the ultrafine filter.
    Jaina Grey, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vivacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vivacious. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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