radiant

adjective

ra·di·ant | \ ˈrā-dē-ənt

Definition of radiant

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : radiating rays or reflecting beams of light

b : vividly bright and shining : glowing

2 : marked by or expressive of love, confidence, or happiness a radiant smile

3a : emitted or transmitted by radiation

b : emitting or relating to radiant heat

radiant

noun

Definition of radiant (Entry 2 of 2)

: something that radiates: such as

a : a point in the heavens at which the visible paths of meteors appear to meet when traced backward

b : the part of a gas or electric heater that becomes incandescent

Other Words from radiant Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about radiant

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Synonyms for radiant

Synonyms: Adjective

aglow, beaming, bright, glowing, sunny

Choose the Right Synonym for radiant

Adjective

bright, brilliant, radiant, luminous, lustrous mean shining or glowing with light. bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light. brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness. radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light. luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness. lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

Examples of radiant in a Sentence

Adjective

She had a radiant inner glow. She looked radiant at her wedding.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

If the two movies had to compete in a beauty pageant, of course the judges would favor the contestant that was softer, nicer, more empathetic, less calculating, and radiant like the sun. — Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, "“Drop Dead Gorgeous,” Which Is Finally Streaming, Is Possibly My Favorite Movie of All Time," 5 July 2019 Indeed, his radiant smile belies the challenges of a young man who is progressively going blind and no longer has any night vision capacity. — Phillip Morris, cleveland.com, "Retinitis pigmentosa stole his eyesight, not his vision: Phillip Morris," 30 June 2019 Visit during the Winter Lights Festival in February to see Hallgrímskirkja blanketed by a vibrant light installation, one of six buildings that transform into radiant works of art during the celebration. — Rumela Basu, National Geographic, "Iceland’s tallest church was inspired by volcanoes," 27 June 2019 Read on for all the ways the pros avoid the sun; and keep in mind, these tips double as the list of reasons why your dermatologist's skin is so radiant. 1. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "How to Protect Your Skin From the Sun Like a Dermatologist This Summer," 12 June 2019 Competition for mates is fierce, and mostly won by the biggest and brightest: Male snouts, genitals and rumps are radiant hues of red, blue and purple. — Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, "A Primer to Our Planet of Monkeys," 12 June 2019 In another image, a little boy in shorts with a radiant smile runs home, a baguette under his arm. — The New York Review of Books, "Carole Naggar," 25 May 2019 Here's how to plan a trip to this radiant destination. — Anne Farrar, National Geographic, "Here’s why everyone is going to Portugal now," 18 June 2019 Violet jacaranda trees and bougainvillea flowers of radiant pink and royal purple are in full bloom. — Nevin Martell, Washington Post, "In central Mexico, a retreat that’s perfect for families," 14 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'radiant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.