bright 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
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

5
6
7
8
9
10

bright

2 of 2

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
Instead of baking off a huge green bean casserole, consider making this brighter, fresher recipe that pairs the beans with quick-pickled shallots and a savory Parmesan dressing. Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025 If Zollers can improve upon Saturday’s performance, the future will get a little brighter. Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025 Add green beans to boiling water, and cook until tender-crisp and bright green, 2 to 3 minutes. Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025 The rest of the country, however, will be in fine shape with mid-autumn stars and constellations plus a waxing gibbous moon and a bright planet shining prominently in the early evening sky. Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Oct. 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
  • There’s also an illuminated bar that seats 10.
    Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The solar wind smashes into the leading edge of Earth’s magnetosphere with supersonic speed, creating a shockwave that can come closer than one hundred thousand kilometers to the planet’s illuminated side.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Her style and approach are, as always, dogged, thorough, and relentlessly cheerful.
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement The clown as a fun family entertainer rebounded in the late 1940s, as American companies developed cheerful new mascots to absorb Cold War anxieties.
    Time, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For the first time, a machine was able to do what only intelligent humans had previously done.
    Big Think, Big Think, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Humans have a much larger neocortex than other animals, relative to body size, and the species with the largest neocortices—elephants, dolphins, gorillas, chimpanzees, dogs—are among the most intelligent.
    James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The struggling team may not be done there, with an insider reporting that teams are calling about another promising defensive player -- with the Jets looking at a Day 2 pick in return.
    Nathan Dougherty, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Making over $80,000 may sound like a promising salary for some, but the paycheck would struggle to keep up with New Yorkers’ cost of living.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • However, despite Republicans seeing the current political climate among youth voters as favorable to their cause, Democrats see an opposite scenario.
    Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • In some spots on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, though, oysters aren’t settling, despite the ostensibly favorable conditions.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Each year, the New York Public Library honors several distinguished individuals for outstanding achievements in their respective fields of arts, culture, letters and scholarship by naming them Library Lions.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2025
  • King Charles hosted the event, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to the community.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • While black, brass, and matte finishes have dominated interiors in recent years, chrome is making a radiant return in 2025.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
  • It’s designed to be applied as a radiant base for makeup or for solo wear.
    Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bright

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!