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Definition of brightnext
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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

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bright

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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
DeVaux, 44, was photographed trackside in her bright red blazer at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Saturday, May 2, after Golden Tempo's triumphant win at odds of 23-1. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026 By tracking the brightest part of a burst, scientists can measure how its frequency changes over time. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026 Plants produce a continuous supply of large, bright yellow blooms spring through fall without deadheading. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2026 The best things shine bright, but never long. Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
Adjective
  • So naturally in a state that treats basketball like a religion and the sport’s biggest stars like royalty, nobody casts a bigger shadow in this community now than the slender 6-foot-6, 196-pound, 19-year-old freshman who changed Final Four weekend with one brilliant shining moment Sunday afternoon.
    Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • At a time of so much partisanship in Congress, especially related to health care, breakthrough legislation is a shining example of how commonsense policies that support patient care and innovation can achieve broad support.
    Josh Makower, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Open-concept bathrooms with terrazzo vanities and illuminated mirrors blur the line between getting ready and hanging out, which suits the hotel’s social energy.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Mill Mountain Park is home to a zoo, wildflower garden, and hiking trails; its peak is topped with a nearly 90-foot-tall star, illuminated and visible for miles.
    Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The French—and, later, Anglo (Wilde, Beardsley, Rossetti)—attitude, mannered and morbid, was perhaps too Old World, at odds with our cheerful, Protestant rapacity.
    Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • Create a cheerful canvas collage inspired by artist Robin Anne Cooper.
    Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Cold, calculating and highly intelligent, Dedra saw the rebellion coming when none of her other peers did.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 May 2026
  • Here, intelligent driving features are ubiquitous, even in affordable models.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Coffee is one of the most promising sectors for economic development in Yemen, where more than 80% of the population lives in poverty, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 May 2026
  • Changing the body’s response to chronic disease Some of the most promising technologies for longevity will need to be prescribed, not bought.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Consider a personal loan for debt consolidation For borrowers who can't qualify for a favorable balance transfer offer or for those who would prefer a different route, debt consolidation could make more sense.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • How to Get Around Montréal's ease and affordability are among its biggest draws for college students, and right now, the favorable exchange rate certainly helps.
    Megan Wallitsch, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • At Friday’s news conference, Cordero-Stutz said outstanding citations will be dismissed.
    Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2026
  • In the bottom of the ninth with one on and one out, Carson Benge made an outstanding diving catch in right field to rob Vaughn Grisson of extra bases and prevent a run from scoring.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026
Adjective
  • The songs were radiant, ecstatic, and cleansing, a deep exhale from a band freed from boardroom expectations.
    Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
  • More radiant outrage in literature, please.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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