livid

American  

[liv-id] / ˈlɪv ɪd /

adjective

1. having a discolored, bluish appearance caused by a bruise, congestion of blood vessels, strangulation, etc., as the face, flesh, hands, or nails.

2. dull blue; dark, grayish-blue.

3. enraged; furiously angry.

   Willful stupidity makes me absolutely livid.

4. feeling or appearing strangulated because of strong emotion.

5. reddish or flushed.

6. deathly pale; pallid; ashen.

   Fear turned his cheeks livid for a moment.

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livid British  

/ ˈlɪvɪd /

adjective

1. (of the skin) discoloured, as from a bruise or contusion

2. of a greyish tinge or colour

   livid pink

3. informal angry or furious

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Other Word Forms

• lividity noun
• lividly adverb
• lividness noun

Etymology

Origin of livid

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin līvidus “black and blue,” equivalent to līv(ēre) “to be livid” (akin to Welsh lliw “color”) + -idus adjective suffix; -id ⁴

Example Sentences

I was livid, too livid to be embarrassed about saying such things to Ba and Ma.

From Literature

The state’s powerful law enforcement unions were livid.

From Los Angeles Times

Though they later held meetings to smooth over their differences, the network is again livid following the reauthorization of German agrochemical giant Bayer's dicamba herbicide for sprayed use on genetically modified soybean and cotton.

From Barron's

When we arrived on Aunt Melissa’s doorstep, she was livid.

From Literature

There are those not only livid with Lord Mandelson, but livid at the collateral damage being done to the prime minister.

From BBC

Related Words

• enraged
• furious
• incensed
• indignant
• mad
• outraged