adjective

livid

/ˈlɪvɪd/ · say it: LIV·id

furiously angry

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (adjective) extremely angry

2. (adjective) having a dark bluish or grayish color (used to describe bruises or skin)

Examples

1. She was livid when she found out he had lied to her.
2. The patient had a livid bruise on his arm after the accident.

How to use livid

Livid is primarily used in contemporary English to mean extremely angry, often emphasizing a person's barely controlled fury or visible anger. The color sense (bluish-gray, especially of bruises or a person's skin from rage or cold) is less common in modern usage but remains valid and literary. The emotional meaning is more frequent in both formal and informal speech.

Common phrases

livid with rage
absolutely livid
turn livid
livid about something
livid bruise
livid complexion

Synonyms

furious · incensed · enraged · irate · seething

Opposites

calm · pleased · delighted

Word family

lividly (adverb) · lividity (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use livid to mean merely annoyed or mildly upset, but it denotes intense, serious anger. Also, using 'of' instead of 'with' or 'about' (saying 'livid of' is incorrect).

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