enlivening 1 of 2

enlivening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of enliven
as in stimulating
to give life, vigor, or spirit to in most instances it's a good idea to enliven a speech with a joke or two

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 enlivening
Adjective
Everything that's walked down the runway recently has just been mind-boggling and incredibly enlivening. Brandi Fowler, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026 The look of it was so enlivening. Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
Written with grimy, enlivening frankness — and an ability to dig into moral ambiguity — every character scrambles to get a leg up. Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 The country’s multicultural nature means people rarely have to go far to find an enlivening spot to watch Italy, Croatia, Mexico and countless other national teams. Shelby Blackley, New York Times, 4 July 2026 There is also enough cheese and schmaltz to go around, enlivening the more straightforward parts of the film. Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026 Munson is a terrific burst of fresh air, enlivening the coach car with humor built from relationship foibles. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026 Cissy’s tiny and opinionated mother, Adelaide, shared the family’s modest apartment for six enlivening years. Miranda Seymour, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026 Aries’ pioneering, take-charge energy is enlivening and energizing for you. Maressa Brown, InStyle, 20 Feb. 2026 But Hitt has a special skill for enlivening the archive, and its gaps. Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025 Amid all the fresh novelty enlivening the Southern barbecue scene, many old classics still shine. Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlivening
Adjective
  • Summer also brings opportunities to hike across glaciers and explore Eyjafjallajökull by snowmobile, offering an exhilarating way to experience this untamed terrain firsthand.
    Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Outdoor Experiences The city skyline is iconic from any angle, but experiencing it from the water delivers an exhilarating new perspective—and makes for a thrilling way to connect with fellow adventurers.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • While stimulating a fresh sense of observation, Selwyn also wanted to counter some myths about museums.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
  • But now this new syndrome, Alpha-gal syndrome, is stimulating communities to say, 'Enough is enough.
    David Pogue, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • That performance and a handful of others leads the way as the UFC wrapped up an exciting event from Shanghai.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • While a lot of the shorts are fully animated, the parts where this cartoon interacts with the real world were the most exciting then and are still a delight now.
    James Grebey, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Anyone who’s watched Unrivaled knows this game is every bit as thrilling as any other sport out there.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Boyle succeeds in making a thrilling, propulsive movie using his signature kinetic filmmaking style of quick cuts, unconventional camera angles, and a frantic pace.
    Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • New bars, which seem to multiply by the second, are no less invigorating.
    Michael Snyder, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The wine is light and elegant in style, with red fruit aromas, refreshing and invigorating, and fine, smooth tannins.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Adjective
  • If this goes as planned, Thompson would follow in the footsteps of Dwyane Wade, whose Heat preretirement reunion was a rousing success, or Ray Allen, who was a key component on a Heat team that won a title and another that made the NBA Finals.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Aegon will have none of it and begins his rousing, defiant speech.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But the role of the group chat is, just as often, to subject one another to a loving humbling.
    Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Italian mother who is a loving mother, a mother hen who cooks well.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • This luxe accent chair invites fall into your home with its rich velvet upholstery and warm cinnamon shade.
    Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The temperature on Monday reached 81 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening with an average humidity level of 72 percent — warm but not unbearable.
    Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enlivening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlivening. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!