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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 The tour concludes in Cartagena, a vivacious and historically rich city that was once a major port during the transatlantic slave trade. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025 Kenneth Branagh’s vivacious and clever Cinderella (2015), Bill Condon’s joyous, gonzo Beauty and the Beast (2017), Rob Marshall’s practically perfect Mary Poppins Returns (2018): all of these films stand proudly on the shoulders of their predecessors rather than noisily trying to improve upon them. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025 Clad in red, Sol arrived on stage at nearly 8:45 and illuminated the room with her vivacious touch and dulcet vocals. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2025 The murder shocked Elliott’s family and friends, who described her as a vivacious, warm, loving woman. Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vivacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vivacious
Adjective
  • That motion can help build strength that translates over to tons of daily tasks, like walking an energetic dog or opening a heavy door, to name a few.
    Christa Sgobba, SELF, 12 May 2025
  • With energetic DJs and robata shows, this is definitely the place to be seen.
    Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Hamilton’s pastor described her as faithful, joyful, ready to help and a great mom, KOB4 reported.
    Sara Schilling, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2025
  • The montage also shows travel snaps from 2023, a cozy hug during a snowy getaway in 2024 and a joyful family beach day.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Insects, much like their human counterparts, are more lively in the spring and summer when the weather is warmer.
    Simmone Shah, Time, 20 May 2025
  • Book Club with the Rancho Santa Fe Librarians Wednesday, May 28, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Join us for a lively discussion at the Senior Center of American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
    Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Hiaasen’s skill as a writer lies less in the virtuosity of his sentence-level prose than in the exuberant strangeness of his plots and the inner lives of the people who inhabit them.
    Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
  • Rihanna’s pregnancy announcement came on an historic evening, co-chaired by her partner A$AP Rocky, that celebrated exuberant Black style and dandyism.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • Its production pedigree and glib roasting of materialism through the magic-using preppy Kaz set it apart from the majority of animated and live-action series alike.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 May 2025
  • New installments in development include a fifth chapter in the main series, an animated prequel, and a spin-off focused on Donnie Yen’s blind assassin, Caine.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Robin Gosens gave them exactly that, but La Viola came up short against the effervescent Spanish side to lose 4-3 on aggregate.
    Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • In between, arguments are made and relationships are built, but the sometimes laborious work of exposition and table-setting can become effervescent when delivered at Sherman-Palladino’s melodic meter.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • For people who aren't paying for extra Windows 10 updates, Microsoft has stayed firmly committed to both Windows 10's end-of-support date and Windows 11's minimum system requirements, which will prevent many active Windows 10 systems from upgrading to the newer operating system.
    Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2025
  • Today, Perez remains active in local government as a Bovo appointee her in May 2023 to the city personnel board.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • But concerts also start feeling poppier and bubblier in springtime, perhaps in anticipation of the even warmer, wilder and grander music events of festival-frenzied summertime.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Vivacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vivacious. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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