bright 1 of 2

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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

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bright colors
vivid colors
vibrant colors
brilliant colors
bold colors
loud colors
a bright day
a sunny day
a clear day
a brilliant day
a dazzling day
a sunshiny day
a bright future
a good future
a hopeful future
a brilliant future
a vibrant future
a sunny future
bright students
smart students
intelligent students
sharp students
brilliant students
brainy students

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
The slightly charred and caramelized beef and onion made the dish filling, while the herbaceous cucumber yogurt kept the flavors bright and fresh. Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 20 May 2025 Instead of a fully matte formula, Barnes opted for a shimmery shadow to keep the eye looking bright and lively. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 May 2025 The industry's brightest stars, including Lainey Wilson, Reba McEntire and more, gathered at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, to find out who is taking home the night's biggest honors. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2025 The berries sink into the batter creating jammy pockets of tender fruit, enhanced by the bright lemon zest in the sponge. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
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
  • Montecito High School Para-educator Lindsay Swanson, an employee since August 2015, was praised for her passion and dedication while serving with a cheerful and positive demeanor.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
  • The show follows the adventures of José, a cheerful and curious character, along with his best friends —Obi, a playful rabbit, and Kim, a curious monkey.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • This type of intelligent power management would mark a departure from Apple's existing Low Power Mode, which applies system-wide restrictions.
    Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
  • These intelligent adaptations help homeowners effectively reduce their monthly energy expenses.
    Jon Stojan, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • These three forces coming together certainly bodes a promising outcome for this venture.
    Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • The idea the experience sparks — a titillating rendezvous with the naked man at the bottom of her sake glass, Jane would never — is enough to kickstart her writing, at least to spit out some very promising pages.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • The pressure to deliver favorable outcomes for clients can lead to chronic stress and anxiety.
    Raquel Gomes, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • And to make matters even more favorable for Indiana, the Knicks looked a little worn out.
    Shakeia Taylor, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Like every successful side in these early years of the World Cup, Uruguay 1950 had an outstanding centre-half in Varela, who was physically dominant and also a key attacking weapon.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 May 2025
  • The Wall Street investment bank estimated that Berkshire’s T-bill position has more than doubled over the past year, adding that the $314 billion stake as of the end of March accounted for 5% of all outstanding short-term government bills.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • Women made up by Ta love his ability to create the most beautiful, radiant skin in the business, with a light that seems to glow from within.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 21 May 2025
  • With radiant gold trim contrasted against a glossy white finish, these pots and pans are made for a stylish home kitchen display.
    Sarah Boyd, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Maybe not the actual people, who are usually sunny and chipper in contrast to their grisly work, but certainly the actual act of being worked on by one of them.
    Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
  • Saturday’s forecast is mostly sunny with a high near 89 degrees and a 50% chance of showers, according to the National Weather Service.
    Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 12 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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