1
2

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective radiant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of radiant are bright, brilliant, luminous, and lustrous. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

In what contexts can bright take the place of radiant?

The words bright and radiant can be used in similar contexts, but bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is it sensible to use brilliant instead of radiant?

Although the words brilliant and radiant have much in common, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

When can luminous be used instead of radiant?

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

When would lustrous be a good substitute for radiant?

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

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 radiant On June 27 the radiant will be visible above the horizon for the entire night, but will be at its highest before the sun sets, making the post-dusk hours the best time to scour the sky for elusive meteors, per stargazing website in-the-sky.org. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 June 2025 Food trucks and vendors lined the street while families laughed and danced under the radiant Texas sun. Christopher Torres, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 June 2025 Albert is the oldest child and only son of the late Prince Rainier II and his American wife, Princess Grace, who was better known as the radiant 1950s Hollywood star Grace Kelly. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 18 June 2025 True to its name, this skin tint feels akin to a serum and is infused with serum-like ingredients, such as squalane, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid for an absolutely radiant, glowing finish. Sarah Han, Allure, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for radiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for radiant
Adjective
  • The Royals are betting Cruz’s future remains bright.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025
  • After all, when the sun is so bright and the water so warm, who would ever want the summer to end?
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Glowing collarbones, shimmering shoulders, and luminous legs are all part of the summer story.
    Larry Stansbury, Essence, 27 June 2025
  • The color in the glass is a delicate but luminous pale pink, with reflections reminiscent of rose petals or light salmon.
    Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Giants first baseman Dom Smith, who played with Devers in Boston last season, offered a glowing endorsement of his former teammate.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 16 June 2025
  • That shopper isn’t the only person who left a glowing review.
    Shea Simmons, People.com, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Her next shining moment comes when two young sisters enter the hospital.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • When Richard Ellmann’s James Joyce hit the shelves in 1959, the sheer size of the book (842 pages, 100 longer than Ulysses ) was as dazzling as the degree of detail.
    Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025
  • Romance and your creative potential will be dazzling!
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • Historically, sunglasses have had an intricate relationship to colder climates as opposed to the sunnier side of the sidewalk.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • The Leo moon enhances an outspoken and sunny disposition until someone challenges your expression.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Gales of laughter, bantering and affectionate hugs streamed through the morning as these friends transformed their sleepy bed heads and puffy morning eyes into fashion model coifs and shiny faces.
    Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2025
  • Then there’s the ship’s fleet of shiny new bikes (and helmets) for cruisers who want to explore ports on their own.
    Sherri Eisenberg, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Diana wore the cheerful frock on several occasions between 1988 and 1992, often during hospital visits and moments of connection with patients.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 28 June 2025
  • Volunteers from a nonprofit that trains service dogs, Helping Paws Inc., provided a little canine therapy for waiting mourners Friday at the Capitol, working the crowd with cheerful golden retrievers.
    John Hanna, Twin Cities, 28 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Radiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/radiant. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on radiant

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!