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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
The car has a bright future, though, destined for the eyes of admirers. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026 Fair terms keep your generous spirit bright. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026 The building was previously a bright tangerine color, with orange trim and a sidewalk sometimes sporting outdoor accouterments such a paddleboards and kayaks. Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 12 Jan. 2026 Unity and spirit are clearly extremely important to Chelsea’s new head coach and for young players under a bright spotlight, his full support will be important. Cerys Jones, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
Adjective
  • Her world, fueled by her life, was the shining and irrefutable definition of integrity.
    Josh Peter, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • The Canon image sensor is a back-illuminated 45-megapixel full-frame flavor, the same category as pro cameras like the Canon EOS R5 II.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2026
  • That means a silver sliver of the moon will be visible, with most of its illuminated half facing away from Earth, NASA explains.
    Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Decorate cupcakes, ice cream, cookies, and even pancakes with this cheerful Valentine's Day sprinkle mix.
    Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Pinterest sought a color that is fun, energizing, and cheerful, and Persimmon rolls all those attributes into one playful shade.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Caterpillar’s intelligent product lineup spans core construction and earthmoving equipment, along with connected site systems.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Conversely, if these foundations can be reinforced, even partially, the intelligent age may yet fulfil its promise of progress.
    Klaus Schwab, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Browns Cleveland boasts an elite defense led by the league’s best pass rusher, an owner who spends more cash than any other team and a promising nucleus from the 2025 draft class.
    Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Creativity, romance and pleasure take on a more serious tone, and a connection could feel both exciting and promising.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The fame Jefferson sought was the second one, closer to honor and the acceptance of one’s ideas, credit for possession of a desirable character and a favorable reputation that would outlive him.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The quarterly rebalanced assortment of large-, mid-, and small-cap RV Portfolio stocks offers an adaptable way to capitalize on favorable market conditions while minimizing losses when the market declines, as detailed in RV Portfolio performance metrics.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The Directors Guild of America has named the nominees for its 2025 awards in the outstanding directorial achievement in television, commercials and documentary categories.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The Hollywood Reporter snagged a nomination again for outstanding magazine overall coverage in a list that also includes The Advocate, Cosmo, Gaye Magazine, Out, People, Poz, Rolling Stone, Time and Variety.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • In a January 26 Instagram Story, Chopra ditched her glam to fully show off her radiant glass skin.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Additionally, Pierette Scavuzzo, Cone Denim’s design director, said the wash-down is radiant at every level.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 26 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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