Meaning & use
vivacious
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Full of energy, enthusiasm, and lively charm, especially in a person's manner.
Grammar: Usually describes a person or their personality: a vivacious host, a vivacious personality. Not used for objects.
Patterns
- a vivacious person
- a vivacious personality
- vivacious conversation
She was a vivacious host who made every guest feel welcome.
His vivacious personality made him popular at parties.
The vivacious young woman danced and laughed all evening.
adjectivecomparable
Lively and animated in style, as of writing, music, or performance.
Grammar: Used for artistic style that feels energetic and full of life.
Patterns
- a vivacious style
- vivacious music
The novel's vivacious prose keeps the reader engaged from the first page.
The band played with a vivacious rhythm that had everyone dancing.
Word forms
| comparative | more vivacious |
|---|---|
| superlative | most vivacious |
Common combinations
- vivacious personality
- Her vivacious personality lights up any room she enters.
- vivacious smile
- He greeted us with a vivacious smile that instantly put us at ease.
- vivacious conversation
- Dinner was full of vivacious conversation and laughter.
- vivacious spirit
- Even in old age, she kept her vivacious spirit.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lively
- A more general word for full of energy; vivacious often suggests an attractive, charming liveliness.
- spirited
- Emphasizes courage and energy; vivacious is more about cheerful, social liveliness.
- bubbly
- Informal and often used of a cheerful, talkative person; vivacious is slightly more formal.
- animated
- Focuses on active movement and expression; vivacious suggests a warm, appealing energy.
Opposites
Word family
- vivaciously adverb
- In a lively, energetic way.
- vivacity noun
- The quality of being lively and full of energy.
Commonly confused: vivacious or voracious? vivacious or vexatious?
vivacious vs voracious
Voracious means having a huge appetite or great eagerness (a voracious reader); vivacious means lively and full of energy.
vivacious vs vexatious
Vexatious means annoying or troublesome; vivacious means lively and charming.
Practice
Despite the long journey, the children remained ______ and full of chatter.
Choose one answer.
Vivacious means lively and full of energy, which fits children who are chatting happily. Voracious means very hungry or eager, which does not fit the context of being full of chatter.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vivacious”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.