1
as in bright
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light
the light glowed brightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brightly
Researchers believe the dinosaur's crest — a large bony ridge rising from the top of the dinosaur's skull — was brightly colored and covered in keratin.
—
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
National Geographic also warned that while some planets, like Venus or Jupiter, might glow brightly, others, like Neptune, may only be visible through binoculars or a telescope.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
Even in times of challenge, setback and immense heartache, the spirit of 1776 has always shone through very brightly.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Even in times of challenge, setback, and immense heartache, the spirit of 1776 has always shown through very brightly.
—Time Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Even in times of challenge, setback and immense heartache, the spirit of 1776 has always shown through very brightly.
—February 25, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
The immense gravity of the central supermassive black hole causes the accretion disk to glow brightly across the electromagnetic spectrum.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Having a sleepover was the best way to spend a weekend, especially with a pile of brightly colored, probably-not-very-nutritious snacks.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
All offer colorful options that look will sparkle brightly on the dance floor and make for beautiful memories to remember for a lifetime.
—Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
National Geographic also warned that while some planets, like Venus or Jupiter, might glow brightly, others, like Neptune, may only be visible through binoculars or a telescope.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
Even in times of challenge, setback and immense heartache, the spirit of 1776 has always shone through very brightly.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Even in times of challenge, setback, and immense heartache, the spirit of 1776 has always shown through very brightly.
—Time Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Even in times of challenge, setback and immense heartache, the spirit of 1776 has always shown through very brightly.
—February 25, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
The immense gravity of the central supermassive black hole causes the accretion disk to glow brightly across the electromagnetic spectrum.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Having a sleepover was the best way to spend a weekend, especially with a pile of brightly colored, probably-not-very-nutritious snacks.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
All offer colorful options that look will sparkle brightly on the dance floor and make for beautiful memories to remember for a lifetime.
—Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightly
Adverb
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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
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One lovely sequence sees an outdoor lunch at the lodge turn into an impromptu dance party with a live musician singing some cheerfully inauthentic bossa nova.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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And the patchwork style of Brij Sadanah’s direction enhances the colorfully over-the-top story, which recasts Wuthering Heights as a sensationalistic revenge drama.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
For a good chunk of this century, however, he has become known mostly for his lush and colorfully vivid covers for Marvel.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
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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On the street, strangers beamed at her round cheeks and blue eyes, and at me, happily implicated in her freshness.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
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Mraz was happily a member of Page’s backing group at the 2025 Adams Avenue Unplugged Festival and at other performances.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightly. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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