as in stimulates
to give life, vigor, or spirit to
in most instances it's a good idea to enliven a speech with a joke or two
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Recent Examples of enlivens
This sunny fruit enlivens steamed greens, seafood treasures of all manners, such as, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, and poached salmon, along with scrumptious baked goods and desserts (meringue pies and bars, tarts, ricotta pancakes, sorbets, silky curds, scones, biscottis, muffins).
—
Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
Best of all, fan favorite and Marvel Defender badass Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) enlivens the action while Vanessa, Fisk’s fascinating soulmate portrayed with a luminosity as well as a pointed edge by Ayelet Zurer, advance the storyline.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The interior features a living room with a fireplace and tangerine-colored seating that enlivens the space.
—Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026
To capture that warmth, Rhode’s Pocket Blush in Sun Soaked delivers a vibrant, spiced orange that instantly enlivens the complexion.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
The seltzer leavens it, enlivens it, puts room between the flavors where the room is needed most, and turns a derivative and mediocre drink into a fascinating and bizarre one.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
Artwork by Alisa Galitsyna enlivens the room.
—Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Yet each performer enlivens a role that looks a bit beleaguered on the page.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
The music, which ranges from Motown to '80s alternative, enlivens the room without muffling conversations.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
Best of all, fan favorite and Marvel Defender badass Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) enlivens the action while Vanessa, Fisk’s fascinating soulmate portrayed with a luminosity as well as a pointed edge by Ayelet Zurer, advance the storyline.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The interior features a living room with a fireplace and tangerine-colored seating that enlivens the space.
—Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026
To capture that warmth, Rhode’s Pocket Blush in Sun Soaked delivers a vibrant, spiced orange that instantly enlivens the complexion.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
The seltzer leavens it, enlivens it, puts room between the flavors where the room is needed most, and turns a derivative and mediocre drink into a fascinating and bizarre one.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
Artwork by Alisa Galitsyna enlivens the room.
—Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Yet each performer enlivens a role that looks a bit beleaguered on the page.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
The music, which ranges from Motown to '80s alternative, enlivens the room without muffling conversations.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlivens
Verb
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The long exhale directly stimulates the vagus nerve, the body’s primary brake on stress.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
23 May 2026
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Finally, biotin strengthens the hair shaft and stimulates keratin production, thickening the hair.—
Claire West,
PEOPLE,
21 May 2026
Verb
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This same sense of entitlement animates the attempts to obliterate Black representation in the South today.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
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That question is the one that animates practices of Richard Prince and Arthur Jafa, who are currently showing their work together at the Fondazione Prada in Venice.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enlivens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlivens. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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