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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 Bourne is one of those big, vivacious personalities that teammates just rave about. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025 Samantha Eggar, the vivacious British actress whose five-year run starting in 1965 included enthralling performances in The Collector, Return From the Ashes, Doctor Dolittle and The Molly Maguires, has died. Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025 With a notably vivacious aroma and flavor, Heilala bowled over tasters with layered complexity. Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2025 The voice acting and vivacious musical presence of Gloria Estéfan is also a plus. Katie Grant, Parents, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vivacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vivacious
Adjective
  • With the right team in place, sessions feel warm, energetic, and inviting.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Williams went viral for his energetic behavior on the sideline during the game.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Junkaroo, a kaleidoscopic, centuries-old street parade rooted in West African traditions and a joyful window into Bahamian heritage.
    Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Coming back to this joyful city to be honored is a very precious moment.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • My appetite for more Lee is low, but Harjo’s Tulsa — cynical and lively at the same time — simmers with more to say.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Lomax not only wrote the song but also stars in the commercial, which portrays him enjoying the Biggie Bag combo meal, a scene that turns into a lively celebration of music and food.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • How to narrow your performance gap The most obvious examples of self-destructive behavior from investors come during market extremes, Ptak says, with over-exuberant investors piling into the market when stocks have already shot up and panic-selling when the market hits the skids.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Stone and Lanthimos have since worked together several times, and their collaboration, a mutual-favoritism society, has been hailed and sometimes reviled for its darkly exuberant sense of risk.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But, because animated films can take a long time to complete, the movie isn’t expected to release until 2029.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Awards were given out across 33 categories, with winners in the narrative, documentary, and animated shorts categories achieving Oscar eligibility.
    Giana Levy, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • My fellow baddies who brunch will love the effervescent Bellini Spritz, made with all-natural peach, guava, passion fruit and strawberry, or the Tropical Mai Tai, made with fresh pineapple, Key lime, and amaretto.
    Chala June, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Yet beneath its delightful surface, Nobody Wants This remains an uneven show—one that relies too heavily on its effervescent stars and, despite treating them with more kindness this time around, still struggles with its Jewish women.
    Judy Berman, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Highly active world Enceladus is a highly active world, with a global, salty sub-surface ocean, believed to be the source of its heat.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
  • During inquiries, the ICO found 178 active email accounts using passwords identical or similar to those set by the organization’s IT desk when the account was activated.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • For the bubbly Glindas of the world, the Wicked Pink Refresher will be right up your alley.
    Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
  • For her part, BunnaB, beloved for her infectious, near-constant laughs, has separated herself from this ascendant pack by infusing her bubbly disposition, girl’s girl attitude, unfettered authenticity — and the unmistakable gravity of earning a second shot.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vivacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vivacious. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

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