vivid
Bright, intense, or colourful.
Word facts
Definition of Vivid
Full of life; strikingly alive.
Example sentences
The painter used vivid reds and oranges to capture the feeling of a summer sunset.
She had a vivid imagination that brought her stories to life in remarkable detail.
Using Vivid well
A closer look at how vivid is used — meaning in plain English, how close synonyms differ, and examples at different levels.
So bright, clear, or detailed that it seems real or stands out strongly.
Choose vivid for colors, memories, descriptions, or dreams that are intense and lifelike. It works well when you want to praise strong, sensory clarity that makes something easy to picture.
Descriptions of colors, imagery in writing, memories, dreams, and imagination.
Do not confuse with "lucid," which means clear and easy to understand (as in reasoning); vivid is about sensory brightness and detail, not clarity of logic.
- striking
- Emphasizes standing out and grabbing attention; something striking is noticeable, while vivid is specifically bright or lifelike.
- graphic
- Stresses explicit, sometimes disturbing detail; vivid can be pleasant, but graphic often carries a warning of intensity.
- lifelike
- Narrower, meaning it closely resembles the real thing; vivid can be intense without being an accurate likeness.
- colorful
- Lighter and more literal about hues (or a lively personality); vivid implies a stronger, more piercing brightness.
- vibrant
- Adds energy and liveliness; a vibrant scene feels full of life, while vivid focuses on sharp clarity and intensity.
- dull
- Lacking brightness, sharpness, or interest.
- faint
- Weak and barely perceptible, especially of a memory or image.
- vague
- Unclear and blurry in detail, the opposite of vivid clarity.
- Beginner I still have a vivid memory of my first day at school.
- In writing Her writing is full of vivid detail — you can almost smell the rain on the hot pavement.
- Advanced The painting's vivid reds refuse to sit quietly on the wall; they press forward and unsettle the calm of the room.
Vivid sounds a bit like "video in your head" — a picture so clear you seem to see it.
Related words
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Words that rhyme with Vivid
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FAQ
Questions people ask
What does vivid mean?
Bright, intense, or colourful. It is an adjective.
How many syllables does vivid have?
Vivid has 2 syllables: vih·vuhd. The word is broken into 2 spoken beats.
What part of speech is vivid?
Vivid is used as an adjective. As a noun, it names a thing, idea, or concept.
What are synonyms for vivid?
Words with similar meanings to vivid include intense, clear, bright, brilliant. The best synonym depends on the exact context you are writing or reading in.
How do you use vivid in a sentence?
Example: "The painter used vivid reds and oranges to capture the feeling of a summer sunset."