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
This is a talented hockey player with a bright NHL future. Josh Yohe, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 Located in the Garden District, the hotel, which was designed by Jeannine Jacobs, has a bright, tropical feel with open-air courtyards, a pool, and a bar. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025 Mix bitter lettuce varieties like radicchio and endive with tender greens, add something substantial like lentils or roasted sweet potatoes, and finish with bright pops of pomegranate or dried cranberries. Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Oct. 2025 Fifty years later, the sketch comedy series is still a television institution, showcasing the brightest up-and-coming comedians, actors and musicians. Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 11 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
  • While show caves attract more than 70 million visitors annually worldwide, more and more travelers are pushing past the paved walkways and illuminated paths.
    Heide Brandes, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
  • While not statistically significant, their experiments also found a higher catch rate of yellowtail fish in the illuminated nets.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Companies such as OpenAI fine-tune the models behind modern chatbots not just to imitate existing writing, but to use the particularly bland and cheerful style that any chatbot user recognizes.
    Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Instead, consider small chairs or stools that can easily be moved and/or repainted to create a cheerful gathering spot, suggests Westbrook.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The latest entry, 2023's Galactic Civilizations IV, has the most sophisticated AI of the lot, making your allies and enemies feel more real, and more intelligent.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • That kind of emotionally intelligent way of working was not seen as one of the old Victoria’s Secret’s strong points.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rookie guard Dylan Harper, the second overall pick, and 2024 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle form a promising core that has San Antonio’s rebuild ahead of schedule.
    Evan Dammarell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Health journalist Tara Haelle delves into promising options, including beta cell transplants that would eliminate the need for immunosuppressive drugs.
    Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Begin mapping out the end of the season, identifying favorable matchups to exploit.
    Andy Behrens, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The orders come at a literal higher cost, but until POKS can establish partnerships with more favorable retailers, Amazon is its best and only option.
    Mara Weinraub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Critics Choice Association has announced the nominees for the 10th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, honoring the year’s outstanding achievements in nonfiction filmmaking.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Rutherford County earned a reputation for outstanding high school football over the past three-plus decades, and the 2020s could arguably be the best era yet.
    Cecil Joyce, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There are also two new delightfully cute additions to the collection — a shiny gold pair that would look radiant on warm-tone complexions and a pair that’s as stylishly macabre as the others, only smaller in size.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • But Roberts is certainly radiant, even if she’s not called on to do all that much.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 18 Oct. 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!