Lively article made it absurd (8)
I believe the answer is:
animated
'lively' is the definition.
('animated' can be similar in meaning to 'lively')
'article made it absurd' is the wordplay.
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
'absurd' indicates anagramming the letters.
'made'+'it'='madeit'
'madeit' with letters rearranged gives 'imated'.
'an'+'imated'='ANIMATED'
(Other definitions for animated that I've seen before include "Lively - like cartoon films" , "Interesting and lively - as a cartoon film is" , "Fired" , "full of spirit" , "Lively in diamante" .)