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
Squeezits No '90s lunch box felt complete without a brightly colored bottle of Squeezits.
—
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
Over 150 brightly colored, lovingly detailed cars cruised down Capitol Mall on Sunday for the fourth annual Lowrider Holiday Celebration.
—Hg Biggs, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2026
Near the parking lot, a big, gray stand was brightly lit and a line of people, some 50 strong, were still lined up to get their two bracelets, a popular handout.
—Gabriel Sama, Mercury News, 21 June 2026
On Saturday afternoon, families and skipping children wove through crowds and past brightly colored carnival games on Ashland Avenue.
—Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
This is especially true of dark and brightly colored clothing, which, when washed inside out, is less susceptible to color loss and fading.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
The base of this simple mocktail is a homemade ginger-lime cordial that's brightly flavored and not too sweet.
—Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 20 June 2026
The study points to interactions involving brightly colored cleaner fish on coral reefs as an example of how information can facilitate cooperation.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
This could be anything from a sticker or patch to a ribbon—or something that does double duty, such as these brightly colored neoprene handle wraps.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
Over 150 brightly colored, lovingly detailed cars cruised down Capitol Mall on Sunday for the fourth annual Lowrider Holiday Celebration.
—Hg Biggs, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2026
Near the parking lot, a big, gray stand was brightly lit and a line of people, some 50 strong, were still lined up to get their two bracelets, a popular handout.
—Gabriel Sama, Mercury News, 21 June 2026
On Saturday afternoon, families and skipping children wove through crowds and past brightly colored carnival games on Ashland Avenue.
—Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
This is especially true of dark and brightly colored clothing, which, when washed inside out, is less susceptible to color loss and fading.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
The base of this simple mocktail is a homemade ginger-lime cordial that's brightly flavored and not too sweet.
—Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 20 June 2026
The study points to interactions involving brightly colored cleaner fish on coral reefs as an example of how information can facilitate cooperation.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
This could be anything from a sticker or patch to a ribbon—or something that does double duty, such as these brightly colored neoprene handle wraps.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightly
Adverb
-
Others are luminously, freakishly beautiful, in ways that seem designed to appeal to beings from other solar systems.—
Rosa Lyster,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
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
Adverb
-
Golden retrievers remained cheerfully oblivious as usual.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
-
Among other curiosities were Matthew Howard and Joseph Pereira cheerfully pulverizing Philip Glass’ Fantasy Concerto for Two Timpanists and Orchestra, as well as Boris Allakhverdyan suavely ghosting jazz legend Artie Shaw in his Clarinet Concerto.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Adverb
-
Mabe Fratti and Bill Orcutt’s collaboration didn’t begin colorfully or dramatically; Fratti just liked Orcutt and said so publicly, prompting Orcutt to reach out, which resulted in their working—remotely, mostly—on a series of pieces.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2026
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Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Poltz was colorfully introduced by his longtime musician friend, former San Diego Padres second baseman and third base coach Tim Flannery.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 May 2026
Adverb
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If not for the enormous backlash—which included a conference lawsuit and threats of a boycott by other schools—the Red Raiders would have happily held their noses and competed for the national championship that eluded them last year.—
Jemele Hill,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
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Best of all, the villain gets to live happily ever after.—
Angelina Mazza,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightly. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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