1
as in bright
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light
the light glowed brightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheerfully
in a cheerful or happy manner
"And how are we today?" the nurse asked brightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in colorfully
in a manner that is colorful and tends to arouse gaiety
parade marchers carrying brightly painted banners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brightly
After more than 30 years, Wimberley Glassworks still flourishes and its gallery is bursting with color—plates in kaleidoscopic shades, delicate pieces glowing brightly on tables, sculptures fanning out in rainbows over the walls, as if outraged by the white paint.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
The yellows are like the palo verde trees that bloom brightly in the streets.
—Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Dopamine patches are stick-on, brightly colored patches sold by a variety of online outlets, and advertised as containing natural ingredients, such as mushroom and bean extract, and marketed as a product to boost concentration and increase energy.
—Helena Kudiabor, SELF, 13 Mar. 2026
Six months into his tenure at the Parisian stalwart, the designer staged his second ready-to-wear collection at Paris Fashion Week Monday, where brightly colored cranes rose from a holographic floor — a deliberate signal that the construction is ongoing.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
At least as memorable was a New Year’s Eve show at the Tune Inn in downtown New Haven where the band blazed brightly.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
The Verde had started brightly, but Charlotte FC’s extra-man onslaught simply overpowered them.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
The brightly colored blue, yellow and green play structures include slides, monkey bars and climbing ropes.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
That area will soon rotate to a collaboration with Roller Rabbit, a colorful and brightly patterned pajama brand, that will include swimwear, sundresses and pool accessories.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
The yellows are like the palo verde trees that bloom brightly in the streets.
—Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Dopamine patches are stick-on, brightly colored patches sold by a variety of online outlets, and advertised as containing natural ingredients, such as mushroom and bean extract, and marketed as a product to boost concentration and increase energy.
—Helena Kudiabor, SELF, 13 Mar. 2026
Six months into his tenure at the Parisian stalwart, the designer staged his second ready-to-wear collection at Paris Fashion Week Monday, where brightly colored cranes rose from a holographic floor — a deliberate signal that the construction is ongoing.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
At least as memorable was a New Year’s Eve show at the Tune Inn in downtown New Haven where the band blazed brightly.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
The Verde had started brightly, but Charlotte FC’s extra-man onslaught simply overpowered them.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
The brightly colored blue, yellow and green play structures include slides, monkey bars and climbing ropes.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
That area will soon rotate to a collaboration with Roller Rabbit, a colorful and brightly patterned pajama brand, that will include swimwear, sundresses and pool accessories.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightly
Adverb
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Joined by Feig's wife, Laurie, and Byrne's partner, Bobby Cannavale, the star pulled out her phone and cheerfully snapped selfies of the foursome.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Netflix’s Ted Sarandos likewise ripped Cameron, but Sarandos would still cheerfully kill to acquire a single new Cameron film over a hundred Red Notices and Rebel Moons.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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More shipping containers were brought in and colorfully painted by local artists.—
Nicole Macias Garibay,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
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Carlsbad is extending a temporary art program begun in 2019 that places colorfully painted, oversized beach chairs in public places around the city.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Bogdanovich’s breakthrough came in 1971 with The Last Picture Show, an ensemble drama about growing up in a small Texas town, sensitively told and luminously shot.—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
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Tarr went on to direct the accomplished The Man From London, which starred Tilda Swinton, before retiring after The Turin Horse, a luminously stark period chamber drama about a father and his adult daughter living alone in the barren Hungarian countryside over the span of about a week.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Her life as portrayed on Mormon Wives is that of a loose cannon who struggles to liberate herself from toxic romantic entanglements, running directly counter to The Bachelor’s fantasy of happily-ever-after.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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But the same energy, enthusiasm and weirdness has happily haunted his art from the ’80s to today.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightly. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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