livid

/ˈlɪvɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪvɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-vəd/ (ame, mw)

livid — adjective

  • lividpositive
  • more lividcomparative
  • most lividsuperlative

1. so angry that you can barely control yourself — much stronger than ordinary ange

1.形容詞C1
釋義

so angry that you can barely control yourself — much stronger than ordinary anger, the kind of fury that someone shows by shouting, going silent, or shaking.

例句

Zuri was livid when she found out her sister had read her diary.

livid + when-clause (cause of anger)

Mr. Henry stormed out of the meeting, absolutely livid about the budget cuts.

absolutely livid about [something]

同義詞
  • furious

    the most common everyday word for the same level of anger; works before nouns too

  • enraged

    more formal; emphasises being driven to rage by something specific

  • incensed

    formal; suggests anger sparked by something seen as unfair or wrong

  • irate

    formal or journalistic; often used in news writing for angry customers or members of the public

反義詞
  • calm

    the everyday opposite — relaxed and not upset

  • pleased

    happy about something; the opposite emotional reaction

文法句型

livid about/over/at [something]

livid with [person]

absolutely livid

用法筆記

Mostly used predicatively after a linking verb ('be/get/become livid'), rarely before a noun. Pair with 'about' or 'over' for the cause, 'with' for the person you are angry at. Common intensifier is 'absolutely' rather than 'very'.

常見錯誤

❌I was very livid with him.
✅I was absolutely livid with him.
💡use 'absolutely' or 'totally', not 'very', to intensify strong adjectives like 'livid'.
❌She gave me a livid look.
✅She gave me a furious look.
💡'livid' is rarely used before a noun; use 'furious' or 'angry' attributively.

2. of a bruise or mark on the skin: showing a strong purple, dark blue, or bluish-g

2.形容詞C2
釋義

of a bruise or mark on the skin: showing a strong purple, dark blue, or bluish-grey colour — the kind of shade that an old injury leaves under the skin.

例句

Adina rolled up her sleeve to show the livid bruise across her elbow.

a livid bruise (attributive, on body)

The boxer's left cheek was a livid purple after the third round.

a livid + colour name (linking verb)

同義詞
  • purplish

    neutral description of the colour without the injury association

  • black-and-blue

    informal; the everyday way to describe a bruise's colour

  • discoloured

    general; covers any abnormal skin colour, not only bruise tones

文法句型

a livid bruise/mark/scar

livid + body part

用法筆記

Almost always used before nouns like 'bruise', 'mark', 'scar', or directly before a colour word ('a livid purple'). Subject is usually a body part or an injury, not the whole person. Distinguish from sense 1: the colour meaning describes skin damage, while sense 1 describes a state of anger.

常見錯誤

❌Her face turned livid from the cold.
✅Her face turned blue from the cold.
💡for ordinary skin discolouration without injury, use 'blue', 'purple', or sense 3 'pale', not sense 2 'livid'.
❌The wall was painted livid.
✅The wall was painted dark purple.
💡'livid' as a colour describes bruises and skin, not paint or objects.

3. of a face or skin: looking strangely pale or grey, as if all the blood has drain

3.形容詞C2
釋義

of a face or skin: looking strangely pale or grey, as if all the blood has drained away — usually because someone is ill, terrified, or in great pain.

例句

Élise's face was livid as the nurse explained the test results.

livid (predicative, due to shock)

The climber returned to base camp livid with cold and exhaustion.

livid with [cause: cold/exhaustion]

同義詞
  • ashen

    literary; suggests a grey, lifeless paleness from severe shock or illness

  • pallid

    formal; an unhealthy whiteness, often a long-term condition

  • wan

    literary; pale and weak, often from sadness or exhaustion

反義詞
  • flushed

    red in the face from heat, exercise, or strong emotion

  • rosy

    healthily pink in the face

文法句型

livid with [fear/cold/pain]

[face] turned/went livid

用法筆記

Formal or literary — everyday speakers prefer 'pale', 'ashen', or 'white' for this meaning. Subject is usually a face, lips, or skin, not the whole person. Distinguish from sense 1 (extreme anger) by context: here the cause is illness or fear, and the description is of colour, not feeling.

常見錯誤

❌He looked livid because he was tired.
✅He looked pale because he was tired.
💡for everyday tiredness, use 'pale'; reserve sense 3 'livid' for serious illness or shock.
❌She was livid with happiness.
✅She was pale with shock.
💡sense 3 only pairs with negative causes like cold, fear, or pain.