livid
LIV-id
/ˈlɪv.ɪd/
Furiouly angry; dark bluish-gray in color.
Conveys intense anger that changes a person's facial appearance, traditionally turning skin dark, pale, or discolored.
The story behind the word. Originally brought into Middle English from Latin 'lividus' to describe the purplish-blue tint of a bruise, the term shifted in the 20th century to describe the pale or discolored expression of a person consumed by violent anger.
Word relationships
- incensed: Incensed highlights an internal ignition of rage, while livid emphasizes visible, overwhelming anger.
- beaming: Beaming reflects radiant happiness and pleasant facial expressions.
Commonly confused with
- vivid: Vivid means bright, intense, or lively; livid means furiously angry or leaden-colored.
Word family
- lividity (noun): The state of being livid or discolored.
- lividly (adverb): In a livid manner.
Collocations
- livid with rage
- absolutely livid
- livid mark
Idioms & expressions
- foaming at the mouth
Example sentences
- "His face was livid with rage when he discovered the betrayal." Literary scene
- "My mother was absolutely livid when she saw the ruined carpet." Family drama
Memory hook
LIVID sounds like 'live-red' or bruise-colored—red and blue with anger. Skin turned pale or bruised with rage.
When not to use
Do not confuse it with 'vivid' (bright/lively).
Fun facts
- In forensic science, 'postmortem lividity' still refers strictly to bodily discoloration, retaining the original Latin definition.
Related words
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