Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vivid differ from other similar words?

The words graphic and picturesque are common synonyms of vivid. While all three words mean "giving a clear visual impression in words," vivid suggests an impressing on the mind of the vigorous aliveness of something.

a vivid re-creation of an exciting event

In what contexts can graphic take the place of vivid?

In some situations, the words graphic and vivid are roughly equivalent. However, graphic stresses the evoking of a clear lifelike picture.

a graphic account of combat

When can picturesque be used instead of vivid?

The meanings of picturesque and vivid largely overlap; however, picturesque suggests the presentation of a striking or effective picture composed of features notable for their distinctness and charm.

a picturesque account of his travels

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 vivid The push-pull was on vivid display Saturday night as a routine procedural vote to take up the legislation in the Senate was held open for hours as Vice President JD Vance and Republican leaders met with several holdouts. Fatima Hussein, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025 But the most vivid damage from the 1925 earthquake was the collapse of brick and stone along Santa Barbara’s State Street. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025 Earlier this week, a vivid green fireball flared to life in the skies above the northeastern U.S, tracking a northerly path before being overwhelmed by the friction of atmospheric entry. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 27 June 2025 Kids who love the vivid colors and animal friends of CoComelon will love spending time with Daniel, his family, and his neighbors. Kara Nesvig, Parents, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for vivid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vivid
Adjective
  • An anecdote illustrates this trend: a freelance graphic designer once lost hours to a phishing link masquerading as a payment request.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 June 2025
  • Deaths – priest Bernat’s murder opening Season 2, for instance – can be graphic.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • For historical reasons, this process is misleadingly called recombination − combination would be more descriptive.
    Stephen L. Levy, The Conversation, 23 June 2025
  • Like many of the names in Newfoundland that strike the visitor as humorous or quaint, Squid Tickle is straightforwardly descriptive.
    Robert Finch June 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Located in the picturesque town of Rothes in the Speyside region, it was founded in 1840 by the visionary brothers John and James Grant.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In its fourth edition, the event is organized by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and kicks off the summer term of its multidisciplinary campus in the picturesque hilltop town of Lacoste in the Luberon Valley.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • At the briefing on Thursday, Caine went further, describing that six bunker-buster bombs were dropped down each of the two ventilation shafts with fuses programmed to detonate at specific times.
    Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 26 June 2025
  • Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair).
    Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Lyles, an average build for a sprinter at 5ft 11in (180cm), is loud and expressive.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • When transiting the bold and expressive sign of Leo, the messenger planet takes on a more theatrical flair.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 26 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vivid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vivid. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vivid

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!