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Definition of brightnext
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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
Those bright, vibrant blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red also repel flies and other insects thanks to their pungent odors. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 May 2026 These patterns, known as diffraction spikes, only appear when a light source is both extremely bright and highly concentrated. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026 There’s an incredibly bright outlook for growing global energy production which allows the economy to grow and prices to remain low. NBC news, 10 May 2026 To achieve the bright look, Davy used a ColourPop eyeshadow palette, wetting the shadows with some water and using a concealer brush to apply them. Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
Adjective
  • So naturally in a state that treats basketball like a religion and the sport’s biggest stars like royalty, nobody casts a bigger shadow in this community now than the slender 6-foot-6, 196-pound, 19-year-old freshman who changed Final Four weekend with one brilliant shining moment Sunday afternoon.
    Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • At a time of so much partisanship in Congress, especially related to health care, breakthrough legislation is a shining example of how commonsense policies that support patient care and innovation can achieve broad support.
    Josh Makower, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The researchers argue that the daily dataset has diagnostic potential, serving as an early warning system for economic cycles, a humanitarian planning tool, and a means of tracking ecological consequences as illuminated nights continue to change at an accelerating pace.
    Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
  • This illuminated design feature is reminiscent of the bar on some older Google devices like the Pixel C tablet and Chromebook Pixel.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • Disrupting the possibility of cheerful solitude is both a stylistic and social shift, disturbing the film’s non-narrative serenity while depicting how dismantling the safety net displaces basic functions onto those least able to bear them.
    Vadim Rizov, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
  • The care home Marie-Lou runs is a sprawling establishment, with lush, cheerful grounds.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • The next is making the grid intelligent enough to absorb that power at scale—flexible, predictive, and reliable.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
  • An immersive, intelligent debut.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • His breakout has been among the most promising signs for the Twins.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026
  • Again, one expected of an assured athlete anticipating a promising NBA career.
    Jason Jones, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • Some time later, a colleague convinced him to rein in his gland reductions, arguing that the glands could instead be moved into a more favorable position by adjusting the platysma using a specific technique.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 14 May 2026
  • The lawsuit argues that allowing such a transfer could create incentives for states to enrich a president in hopes of favorable federal treatment.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • Alvarez is, once again, having an outstanding season.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
  • Goalkeeper Casey Murphy was outstanding for the Legacy.
    Boston Herald staff, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • The primary suite includes a dressing area and a marble bathroom with radiant heated floors and a soaking tub.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
  • Marcloid may often employ the sonic language of misery and darkness, but her glistening synths, rubbery rhythms, and radioactive colors transform a raging storm into an expression of radiant, high-definition joy.
    Reed Jackson, SPIN, 8 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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