different between vivacious vs irrepressible

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin v?v?x (“lively, vigorous”) (with the suffix -ious), from v?vere (“to live”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va??ve???s/, /v??ve???s/
• Rhymes: -e???s

Adjective

vivacious (comparative more vivacious, superlative most vivacious)

1. Lively and animated; full of life and energy.
2. (obsolete) Long-lived.
3. (rare) Difficult to kill.

Synonyms

• (lively and animated): animated, bubbly, ebullient, high-spirited, lively, vibrant, exciting

Derived terms

• vivaciousness

Related terms

Translations

References

Further reading

• vivacious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• vivacious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• vivacious at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

ir- +? repressible

Adjective

irrepressible (not generally comparable, comparative more irrepressible, superlative most irrepressible)

1. Not containable or controllable.
   • 1858, Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. 15:

     [...] here the two friends burst into a variety of giggles, and glanced from time to time, over the tops of their pocket-handkerchiefs, at Nicholas, who from a state of unmixed astonishment, gradually fell into one of irrepressible laughter [...]

2. (of a person) Especially high-spirited, outspoken, or insistent.
   • 1875, Wilkie Collins, The Law and the Lady, ch. 3:

     The irrepressible landlady gave the freest expression to her feelings.

   • 1901, Frank Norris, The Octopus, Book II, Conclusion:

     "The irrepressible Yank is knocking at the doors of their temples and he will want to sell 'em carpet-sweepers for their harems."

   • 1963 July 12, "People," Time:

     It was Paris' irrepressible High Fashion Doyenne Gabrielle ("Coco") Chanel, 80, so-soing this and high-hatting that, while Women's Wear Daily took notes.

   • 2012 July 24, Mel Watkins, "Sherman Hemsley, ‘Jeffersons’ Star, Is Dead at 74," New York Times (retrieved 16 June 2013):

     High-strung and irrepressible, George Jefferson quickly became one of America’s most popular television characters, a high-energy, combative black man who backed down to no one.

Translations