BRIGHTNESS Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

brightness

noun

ˈbrīt-nəs

Definition of brightness

as in brilliancy

the quality or state of having or giving off light the brightness of the sunshine made me squint after an afternoon spent in a darkened movie theater

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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 brightness The hotter and bluer white dwarfs are mostly brighter, so they can be seen from further away and are over-represented in surveys that only look at a star’s brightness. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026 Features such as adaptive brightness, low blue light technology and ergonomic adjustability can help create a more comfortable experience while preserving the visual quality users expect. — George Toh, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Niacinamide is also included to gradually enhance skin brightness of any post-breakout dark spots. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026 Lasting less than 60 days and consisting of two 5-day blasts, this episode saw a doubling of the X-ray brightness of the AGN at the heart of NGC 1275. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brightness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightness

Noun

Greatest brilliancy marks the sweet spot between the two, when Venus' apparent size and shrinking phase combine to give us the greatest apparent area of illuminated Venus in our sky.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Sep. 2026
The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Definition of brilliancy

Noun

Intarsia cashmere, combinations of leather and chiffon, and silk knitwear are areas of interest, with softness and lightness informing the broader wardrobe.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
What’s exciting about creating things is that sense of freedom, that lightness and the ability to adapt.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lightness

Noun

Perhaps the biggest point of difference between the two men was their preferred source of illumination.

— Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
In some instances, the Gucci Glow highlighter and blush were also applied on the eyes to add illumination and pigment.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of illumination

Noun

Crucial to the finished effect was controlling the shine without losing the luminosity.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026
Call it transcendental, the character’s deepening sense of luminosity, the way his empathy heightens as his consciousness expands.

— David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of luminosity

Browse Nearby Words

brightly

brightness

brigs

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Style

“Brightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightness. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of brightness

noun

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