bright 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a company that is always looking for bright, ambitious college graduates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
7
8
9
10

bright

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bright differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bright are brilliant, luminous, lustrous, and radiant. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is brilliant a more appropriate choice than bright?

While the synonyms brilliant and bright are close in meaning, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

In what contexts can luminous take the place of bright?

While in some cases nearly identical to bright, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When would lustrous be a good substitute for bright?

The meanings of lustrous and bright largely overlap; however, lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

When might radiant be a better fit than bright?

Although the words radiant and bright have much in common, radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bright
Adjective
Alicia Keys steps out in a bright red pantsuit while greeting fans outside her Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen in New York City. Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025 Raw red onions already add a pop of color with their purple hue, but when pickled, the vegetable takes on a really beautiful bright pink color. Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025 By stacking these two together in layers, the CNSI team created large, printable membranes that emit bright, stable light and can even be stretched without breaking. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025 Most tequila recipes are bright and refreshing, leaning on the spirit’s inherent affinity for sunshine. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
Adjective
  • The best shining example of something that was influenced by us is the British version of The Office.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Attendees rode in support of and alongside community member Eva Zamora, who is a shining example of how to live your best life with Parkinson’s disease and takes cycle classes at EōS regularly, a news release stated.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Black holes will exist far, far longer than the entire illuminated age of stars.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Sep. 2025
  • This illuminated inflatable can be set up quickly and comes with tether cords and ground stakes to keep it securely in place.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These cheerful yellow dishes remind us of our grandparents’ tablescapes with colorful arrays of roasted vegetables and desserts filled with fresh berries.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Garden statues peeking from behind planters, a vintage wheelbarrow brimming with fall blooms, or even cheerful pinwheels catching the autumn breeze can add charm.
    Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Millions grew up less intelligent, more violent, poorer, and more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
    Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
  • But there were circumstances that could allow the highly intelligent Leland to have a better life.
    Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In early 2020, a bevy of new hypercars was announced—several promising at least 300 mph.
    Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
  • But for the millions of people bearing the brunt of housing deficits and the global housing mismatch, this sounds like a promising approach to partially tackling these issues.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • So what makes for a favorable location?
    Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Friday.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • At EZCorp, which operates hundreds of EZPawn shops across the United States, the pawn loans outstanding and overall revenue hit record highs during the second quarter.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
  • According to the Education Data Initiative, the average millennial had an outstanding student loan balance of $40,438 in 2023.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Dean’s star power is radiant and fueled by more than just charisma.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Valeria Golino—the evening’s radiant hostess—went dramatic in all black, complete with a sculptural neckline.
    Sofia Viganò, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bright

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!