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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
There is nothing restrained about the family room, with brick walls that feature a bright splash of chartreuse (Benjamin Moore’s Wasabi, AF-430). Jeanne Lyons Davis, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025 The Bitter Mai Tai is a full-fledged neo classic, first bright with lime and rum, then deep with almond, and then—where a standard Mai Tai would fall away with a lingering malic zing—the Bitter Mai Tai rises in a bold third act, humming with bitterness and the banana-funk of the rum. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2025 Great Britain’s winning performance from Friday’s four races, held in bright sunshine and warm gusty breeze, earned driver Dylan Fletcher and his team their second victory of the season. Andrew Rice, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025 The beauty ingredient is known for helping exfoliate skin and improve collagen production, which typically results in brighter skin and diminished fine lines and hyper pigmentation. Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 12 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
  • At the heart of the park is another immersive extravaganza as footage of seascapes and schools of fish swirls dizzyingly around one of the world’s biggest wraparound screens whilst drones which look like illuminated jellyfish fill the air.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • LEDs replace chrome, and there's a new take on BMW's usual four headlights, although the illuminated kidney grill is an option, not mandatory.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The YouTuber greets everyone — fan on the street, friend, foe, sitting Congressmen, and unsuspecting Rolling Stone staffer — the same, with a cheerful smile and an already rolling camera crew.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The pet supplement space is crowded with options, many of which have cheerful packaging and confident claims, yet little transparency about efficacy.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For organizations that are serious about modernizing their platforms and adopting AI to drive efficiency and growth, intelligent archiving should be a core part of their digital transformation and data readiness strategies.
    Sean Nathaniel, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting— and one of the finest actors ever.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • With a combined score of 15, Leavitt is off to a promising start in the competition.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Then that data went to at least two or three judges for review, while all the most promising creams, tools, and polishes were passed out to Allure editors for testing.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • So, all in all, hair questions seem like a favorable thing.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Political stability, a favorable family-office regime, independent courts, and Mandarin fluency made Singapore a natural draw for China's super-rich.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Herbert is playing outstanding football, and while their running game has been very pedestrian, their air attack is looking good.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The 6-foot-3 left-hander has been outstanding, completing 71 of 106 passes for 772 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.
    Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This liquid exfoliating treatment is powered by extracts from 100,000 apple stem cells to visibly refine pores and smooth skin texture, achieving a radiant, just-polished look.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Today, makeup trends are decidedly more radiant, with juicy lip stains leading the charge—offering the allure of a glossy finish, paired with the long-lasting wear of a tint.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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