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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective energetic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of energetic are lusty, nervous, strenuous, and vigorous. While all these words mean "having or showing great vitality and force," energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity.

an energetic campaigner

When can lusty be used instead of energetic?

While in some cases nearly identical to energetic, lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment.

a lusty appetite for life

When is it sensible to use nervous instead of energetic?

The words nervous and energetic can be used in similar contexts, but nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor.

full of nervous energy

Where would strenuous be a reasonable alternative to energetic?

While the synonyms strenuous and energetic are close in meaning, strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging.

the strenuous life on an oil rig

When is vigorous a more appropriate choice than energetic?

The synonyms vigorous and energetic are sometimes interchangeable, but vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness.

as vigorous as a youth half his age

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 energetic Leanne Roser, of New Lenox, kept a watchful eye over her four dogs in the backyard Thursday afternoon, two of them still energetic pups. Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025 As for the source of this energy, physicists knew that quantum fields, the entities responsible for particles like electrons and photons, contribute an energetic sizzle to otherwise-empty space. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025 Dewey's dedication to waking his owner's boyfriend has resonated with thousands of viewers online, who flooded the comment section with laughter and admiration for the energetic pup. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 Mat and her latest, Patterns, Ballerini has seen her career surge on the strength of heartfelt songs and energetic stage shows, with headlining concerts at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena, and New York’s Madison Square Garden. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for energetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for energetic
Adjective
  • His mother, her mental health, brothers, that family dynamic.
    H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • In today’s dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Panelists had been carefully chosen and the moderators ensured lively debates took place.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • To introduce persimmon in a balanced way, Bassford recommends incorporating the color into decorative touches like wallpaper, upholstery, or bedding for a lively yet harmonious effect.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • One study showed that a maximum reduction in mortality could result from 150 to 300 minutes per week of vigorous activity, 300 to 600 minutes per week of moderate physical activity, or a combination of these.2 2.
    Amy Kwan, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Advocates of vigorous government oversight look upon the concept of federal preemption as a tool of deregulation.
    Glenn G. Lammi, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Developing robust risk management strategies is not about paranoia but preparedness.
    Jim Stevenson, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Now, compared to recent offseasons, the group appears far less robust.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Redshirt freshman Kaleb Annett was the most active quarterback on the day, throwing for 77 yards and a touchdown on a 6-for-10 throwing performance.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The 1880s were the most active decade for U.S. hurricane landfalls on record.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Even though Trump showed signs of softening his aggressive tariff plan with an exemption last week for smartphones, computers and other electronics and floated a temporary exemption for autos, the administration continues to be amadamant more tariffs are coming soon.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
  • More likely than an all-out boycott, say attorneys, is a new era in which taxpayers and their accountants push the envelope with aggressive tax-planning techniques that may escape the review of an understaffed agency.
    Robert Frank, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Led by 28-year olds Frederic Boesel and Jonas Muller—along with their over 30 cofounders—the company is positioning itself to be a big mover in AI, making the base models underpinning powerful image generation widely accessible.
    Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The formula combines powerful but gentle ingredients like tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and niacinamide to tackle dark spots, acne scars, and uneven tone.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Katt also lent his voice to the animated The Get Along Gang in the mid-1980s, and in Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.
    Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
  • In the brief animated video graphic shared to Perry’s Instagram, the expedition’s logo comes into frame, against a starry sky.
    Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Energetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/energetic. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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