vivid

adjective

viv·​id ˈvi-vəd How to pronounce vivid (audio)
Synonyms of vivid
1
of a color : very strong : very high in chroma
2
: having the appearance of vigorous life or freshness : lively
a vivid sketch
3
: producing a strong or clear impression on the senses : sharp, intense
specifically : producing distinct mental images
a vivid description
4
: acting clearly and vigorously
a vivid imagination
vividly adverb
vividness noun

Synonyms of vivid

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graphic, vivid, picturesque mean giving a clear visual impression in words.

graphic stresses the evoking of a clear lifelike picture.

a graphic account of combat

vivid suggests an impressing on the mind of the vigorous aliveness of something.

a vivid re-creation of an exciting event

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

Examples of vivid in a Sentence

He gave a vivid description of the scene. The book includes many vivid illustrations. The dream was very vivid. She could remember the dream in vivid detail. The fabric was dyed a vivid red.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This is particularly vivid on Soft Cell’s newest, and final, studio album, Danceteria. — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026 Twenty-nine years have passed since then, yet the memory of the princess—an empathetic woman who defied convention, vulnerable yet rebellious, and imbued with a profound humanity—remains vivid and very much alive in the eyes of the entire world. — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026 Everything in the country breathes; nature and even furnishings are alive, vivid under the stress of uncertainty. — David Denby, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Instead, Jolene sits on the precipice of change, telling a vivid story of how seeing a stunning young woman can make another woman insecure. — Wendy Hargreaves, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vivid

Word History

Etymology

Latin vividus, from vivere to live — more at quick entry 1

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vivid was in 1634

Rhymes for vivid

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Browse Nearby Words

vivianite
vivid
vividity
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Cite this Entry

“Vivid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vivid. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

vivid

adjective
viv·​id ˈviv-əd How to pronounce vivid (audio)
1
: very strong or bright
a vivid red
2
: having the appearance of vigorous life
a vivid sketch of the children
3
: producing a strong or clear impression : sharp
especially : producing distinct mental pictures
a vivid description
4
: acting clearly and powerfully
a vivid imagination
vividly adverb
vividness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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