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
Amid the sea of handmade signs, American flags waved brightly in the morning sun.
—
Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
At just 51 years old, D’Angelo joined the ranks of many Black luminaries who shined brightly but not long.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
New York — Pierre-Auguste Renoir was one of the leaders of the Impressionist school of painting, established in 1874 by a group of French artists, whose loose brushwork and brightly colored paints created a sense of spontaneity and modernity.
—Jane Levere, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Adding the brightly colored ground to the paintings gives the whole thing a lit-from-within aura.
—Grace Edquist, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025
Two light festivals are kicking off in the Bay Area with impressive public art, including a series that will shine brightly at eight stories tall.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Thus, the spotlight shines brightly at a school like Penn State, where the money for the next head coach is also liable to be enormous.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The Americans started brightly and confidently, getting control in midfield and probing with intent, but chances were rare, with the first real effort somewhat accidental as Zavier Gozo’s cross from the left clipped the top of the bar.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
To truly experience its peaceful side, travelers should plan trips during the off-season, when the red rocks glow just as brightly — but the crowds are far fewer.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
At just 51 years old, D’Angelo joined the ranks of many Black luminaries who shined brightly but not long.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025
New York — Pierre-Auguste Renoir was one of the leaders of the Impressionist school of painting, established in 1874 by a group of French artists, whose loose brushwork and brightly colored paints created a sense of spontaneity and modernity.
—Jane Levere, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Adding the brightly colored ground to the paintings gives the whole thing a lit-from-within aura.
—Grace Edquist, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025
Two light festivals are kicking off in the Bay Area with impressive public art, including a series that will shine brightly at eight stories tall.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Thus, the spotlight shines brightly at a school like Penn State, where the money for the next head coach is also liable to be enormous.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The Americans started brightly and confidently, getting control in midfield and probing with intent, but chances were rare, with the first real effort somewhat accidental as Zavier Gozo’s cross from the left clipped the top of the bar.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
To truly experience its peaceful side, travelers should plan trips during the off-season, when the red rocks glow just as brightly — but the crowds are far fewer.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightly
Adverb
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The hostess seemed to accept this quite cheerfully and, in fact, expect the mess.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
-
No Mob boss, cheerfully decreeing that an inconvenient witness be rubbed out, could be more resolute.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
That was colorfully communicated this week by JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon , who said there may be more cockroaches in the industry after the country’s largest bank took sizeable charge-offs in the third quarter for exposure to Tricolor.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
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Shot in a colorfully naturalistic style by Irina Lubtchansky (My Golden Days), the film occasionally switches to what looks like Super 8mm, capturing the action more intimately and playfully.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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The combo is a winning recipe that has kept this neighborhood favorite happily busy since 1993.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
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Barrymore happily sniffed both Anderson and Mathews’ feet — which were both deemed to be scentless, thank you very much — during a discussion about their now-viral foot footage on Friday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightly. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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