Livid
/ˈlɪvɪd/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Livid is used to describe someone who is extremely angry, more than just upset or annoyed. It shows a strong feeling of anger that is hard to hide. Also, livid can describe a color that is dark blue or purple, like the color of a bruise on the skin.
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See It in Action
Extremely angry or furious
- •She was livid when she found out someone took her phone.
- •He gave a livid look after hearing the bad news.
- •The teacher was livid because the students did not do their homework.
Dark bluish or purple color, like a bruise
- •His arm was livid after the fall.
- •The bruise turned livid before it slowly disappeared.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "livid" like "angry" (A1 word), but much stronger—like "very, very angry"
- ✓Picture a person's face turning red or dark because they are so angry they cannot control it
- ✓It's the feeling when someone yells loudly because they are upset about something unfair
- ✓Sounds like "LIVE-id" → imagine someone so angry they feel like their heart is alive and burning inside
- ✓Think of a character in a movie who is so mad they almost shout or explode with anger
- ✓NOT like "mad" or "angry" which can be mild; "livid" is the strongest kind of anger
- ✓NOT just a color word, but also used for emotion—like feeling bruised inside by anger
- ✓The color meaning is like a dark bruise, NOT like bright red or pink (which show different feelings)
Try Other Words
- •Furious: very angry (Use when the anger is very strong and often loud or violent)
- •Outraged: shocked and angry (Use when the anger comes from feeling something is unfair or wrong)
- •Irate: very angry (Use in formal writing or when describing strong anger)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; "livid" comes as a whole adjective
- •Etymology: From Latin "lividus" meaning "bluish" or "black and blue," originally describing color
- •Historical development: First used to describe color of bruises, later also used to describe very strong anger (like a dark, strong feeling)
- •Modern usage: Used both for very angry feelings and for describing dark, bruised colors on skin
Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel when someone is livid with you? Can you tell by their face or voice?
•Can livid be used to describe feelings other than anger? How might the color meaning help us understand the emotion?
Fill in the blanks
1.She was livid because someone ___ her favorite book without asking.
2.When he heard the news, his face turned ___ and he looked livid.
3.Livid is stronger than angry because it shows ___ emotion.
4.The bruise on her leg was ___ and dark, showing it was livid.
5.People often say "livid with ___" to show very strong anger.
6.After the argument, he was so livid that he could not ___ calmly.
7.Unlike normal anger, livid often shows on the face with ___ or dark color.