Synonyms of light

light 1 of 5

noun

1

as in glow

the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible

he read poetry to her by the light of the moon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• glow
• glare
• gleam
• illumination
• sunlight
• glint
• beam
• luminescence
• fluorescence
• radiance
• blaze
• incandescence
• glimmer
• shine
• twinkle
• flash
• moonlight
• ray
• flare
• reflection
• shimmer
• sparkle
• sunshine
• daylight
• scintillation
• glitter
• stream
• lustre
• sunbeam
• halo
• aurora
• shaft
• sheen
• streak
• aureole
• gloss
• luster
• polish
• afterglow
• aureola
• glisten

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• night
• dark
• darkness
• shadow
• dusk
• blackness
• gloom
• dimness
• duskiness

2

as in lamp

something that provides illumination

turn off the light when you go to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lamp
• lighting
• candle
• flashlight
• headlight
• beacon
• illuminant
• lantern
• electric
• chandelier
• spotlight
• floodlight
• arc light
• lighthouse
• streetlight
• light bulb
• arc lamp
• candelabra
• fluorescent lamp
• flashbulb
• gaslight
• flare
• incandescent lamp
• dark lantern
• sconce
• candelabrum
• sun lamp
• flash
• flashcube
• klieg light
• girandole
• gasolier
• kleig light

3

as in star

a person who is widely known and usually much talked about

a leading light in the acting profession

Synonyms & Similar Words

• star
• personality
• celebrity
• luminary
• somebody
• notable
• name
• personage
• cause célèbre
• dignitary
• hero
• superstar
• notoriety
• figure
• standout
• icon
• cause celebre
• celeb
• ikon
• VIP
• notability
• megastar
• worthy
• pillar
• favorite
• idol
• eminence
• monument
• immortal
• heartthrob
• magnate
• baron
• demigod
• mogul
• big shot
• nabob
• bigwig
• kahuna
• panjandrum

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nobody
• lightweight
• has-been
• noncelebrity
• mediocrity

4

as in sunrise

the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance

with the coming of light we could see all the damage that the storm had caused

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sunrise
• day
• dawning
• dawn
• morning
• morn
• daylight
• sun
• daybreak
• aurora
• sunup
• daytime
• cockcrow
• forenoon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sunset
• dark
• night
• darkness
• nightfall
• sundown
• midnight
• nighttime
• afternoon
• evening
• midday
• dusk
• twilight
• eventide
• gloaming

light

2 of 5

adjective (1)

1

as in lightweight

having little weight

the suitcase was as light as a feather after all the clothes were removed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lightweight
• small
• weightless
• feathery
• thin
• fragile
• tiny
• underweight
• featherlight
• smallish
• wee
• little
• puny
• diminutive
• slender
• undersize
• insubstantial
• undersized
• flimsy
• petite
• slim
• minute
• bantam
• slight

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• heavy
• large
• weighty
• leaden
• substantial
• ponderous
• great
• hefty
• considerable
• overweight
• extensive
• big
• huge
• massive
• voluminous
• super
• sizeable
• sizable
• handsome
• oversized
• goodly
• oversize
• jumbo
• bulky
• cumbersome
• unwieldy
• largish
• overscaled
• overscale
• king-size
• hulking
• whacking
• king-sized

2

as in smooth

involving minimal difficulty or effort

a little light work was all it took to straighten up the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smooth
• easy
• simple
• cheap
• ready
• soft
• fluid
• quick
• royal
• snap
• effortless
• painless
• downhill
• straightforward
• facile
• fluent
• obvious
• clear
• transparent
• uncomplicated
• hands-down
• apparent
• evident
• distinct
• manifest
• unmistakable
• mindless
• plain
• unambiguous
• unequivocal
• unchallenging
• palpable
• patent
• clear-cut
• idiotproof
• perspicuous
• open-and-shut

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• difficult
• severe
• hard
• tough
• rough
• stiff
• formidable
• killer
• strenuous
• arduous
• murderous
• exacting
• laborious
• demanding
• painful
• labored
• oppressive
• grueling
• toilsome
• troublesome
• herculean
• burdensome
• complex
• stressful
• onerous
• exhausting
• gruelling
• intricate
• problematic
• complicated
• toilful
• problematical
• involved
• knotty
• abstruse
• recondite
• taxing

3

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable

traffic on the highway seems to be very light today

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sparse
• scarce
• poor
• small
• scanty
• scant
• meager
• lowest
• lacking
• skimpy
• meagre
• slender
• spare
• short
• insufficient
• inadequate
• sparing
• minimal
• stingy
• slim
• exiguous
• thin on the ground
• mere
• thin
• niggardly
• skimp
• deficient
• hand-to-mouth
• slightest
• least
• wanting
• slight
• littlest
• sterile
• bare
• bare-bones
• unfruitful
• unproductive
• barren
• infertile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sufficient
• ample
• adequate
• abundant
• enough
• generous
• liberal
• plentiful
• satisfactory
• copious
• bountiful
• rich
• tolerable
• fat
• fertile
• fruitful
• prolific
• plenteous
• extra
• lavish
• bursting
• excess
• luxuriant
• fecund
• flourishing
• surplus
• thriving
• proliferative
• blooming
• teeming
• swarming

4

as in graceful

moving easily

the dancer was exceptionally light on her feet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• graceful
• agile
• light-foot
• nimble
• lissom
• feline
• gracile
• lightsome
• spry
• balletic
• lithesome
• lithe
• lissome
• light-footed
• flexible
• pliant
• supple
• acrobatic
• pliable
• featly
• dextrous
• athletic
• limber
• adroit
• deft
• coordinated
• dexterous
• loose-jointed
• light-fingered
• sure-footed
• fleet-footed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• awkward
• lumbering
• clumsy
• ungainly
• ungraceful
• gawky
• rigid
• graceless
• stiff
• uncoordinated
• inflexible
• klutzy
• inept
• maladroit
• bungling

5

as in gentle

not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect

light punishment to fit a minor offense

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gentle
• soothing
• soft
• mellow
• mild
• delicate
• benign
• bland
• quiet
• smooth
• tender
• balmy
• peaceful
• serene
• calm
• tranquil
• nonabrasive
• compassionate
• easy
• merciful
• softening
• placid
• pacific
• lenient
• sleek
• slick
• clement
• emollient
• cushioning
• buffering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• powerful
• hard
• harsh
• intense
• coarse
• caustic
• severe
• stern
• rough
• abrasive
• scathing
• exquisite
• fierce
• strong
• violent
• forceful
• savage
• forcible
• ungentle
• rugged
• irritating
• grim
• stiff
• oppressive
• roughened
• rude
• pitiless
• gruff
• tyrannical
• roughening
• abrading
• heavy-handed
• tyrannic

6

as in fluffy

resembling air in lightness

the waves had an especially light foam at their crests because of the strong breeze

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fluffy
• airy
• delicate
• ethereal
• gossamer
• lightweight
• diaphanous
• gossamery
• insubstantial
• feathery
• wispy
• downy
• flimsy
• tender
• buoyant
• dainty
• weightless
• gauzy
• vaporous
• cobwebby
• unsubstantial
• gauzelike
• rarefied
• lighter-than-air
• pillowy
• cumulous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• heavy
• substantial
• leaden
• solid
• firm
• bulky
• weighty
• burdensome
• cumbersome
• ponderous
• hefty
• unwieldy
• lumpish
• hulking

light

3 of 5

adjective (2)

1

as in illuminated

filled with much light

the light, airy room is exceptionally cheerful

Synonyms & Similar Words

• illuminated
• lighted
• illumined
• lit
• bright
• brightened
• alight
• lightsome
• shiny
• highlighted
• spotlit
• ablaze
• sunny
• ignited
• sunlit
• spotlighted
• kindled
• moonlit
• floodlighted
• floodlit
• sunshiny

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dark
• dusk
• darkened
• dusky
• blackened
• unlit
• dimmed
• lightless
• darkish
• pitch-black
• darkling
• gloomy
• pitch-dark
• sombre
• somber
• shadowy
• gray
• cloudy
• grey
• pale
• obscured
• murky
• tenebrous
• leaden
• sunless
• shadowlike
• lightproof

2

as in pale

lacking intensity of color

we painted the walls a light blue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pale
• faded
• dulled
• dull
• faint
• pastel
• neutral
• washy
• white
• dim
• grey
• gray
• washed-out
• mat
• matte
• lusterless
• lackluster
• dirty
• muddy
• bleached
• matt
• washed
• achromatic
• flat
• colorless
• unpainted
• uncolored
• indistinct
• undyed
• unstained
• whitened
• blanched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dark
• rich
• deep
• bright
• gay
• brilliant
• vivid
• vibrant
• colored
• painted
• chromatic
• stained
• tinted
• colorful
• rainbow
• tinged
• dyed
• prismatic
• variegated
• multicolored
• loud
• showy
• gaudy
• flashy
• garish
• polychromatic
• varicolored
• polychrome
• motley
• splashy

3

as in pallid

of light complexion

her light skin tends to freckle easily in the sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pale
• pallid
• white
• paled
• fair
• sallow
• ashen
• ashy
• wan
• pasty
• peaky
• peaked
• palish
• sallowish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dark
• black
• swarthy
• swart
• brunette
• brunet

light

4 of 5

verb (1)

1

as in to burn

to set (something) on fire

we lit the kindling before adding the heavier logs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• burn
• torch
• ignite
• fire
• illumine
• kindle
• scorch
• illuminate
• inflame
• enflame
• bake
• enkindle
• cook
• ash
• lighten
• brighten
• set off
• char
• immolate
• broil
• radiate
• kiln
• irradiate
• incinerate
• deflagrate
• rekindle
• cremate
• sear
• relight
• stoke
• bank
• frizzle
• reignite
• scald
• scathe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extinguish
• put out
• quench
• snuff (out)
• douse
• dim
• choke
• smother
• dull
• suffocate
• stamp (out)
• obscure
• dowse
• darken
• blacken

2

as in to illumine

to supply with light

the lights from the TV cameras will light this room as though it were high noon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• illumine
• illuminate
• beacon
• brighten
• lighten
• irradiate
• bathe
• beam
• glow
• shine
• illume
• beat (down)
• emblaze
• highlight
• glisten
• radiate
• blind
• spotlight
• gleam
• ignite
• glare
• flame
• floodlight
• halo
• dazzle
• kindle
• glitter
• blaze
• enhalo
• incinerate
• fire
• burn
• daze
• bedazzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dim
• dull
• darken
• obscure
• obfuscate
• blacken
• veil
• cover
• shroud
• extinguish
• put out
• quench
• snuff (out)
• douse
• dowse

light

5 of 5

verb (2)

1

as in to perch

to come to rest after descending from the air

the bird lit on the branch and began to sing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• perch
• land
• alight
• touch down
• roost
• settle
• belly-land
• crash-land

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• arise
• take off
• plane
• climb
• wing
• ascend
• blast off
• fly
• float
• glide
• hang
• soar
• hover

2

as in to descend

to come down from something (as a vehicle)

he hurriedly lighted from the bus and started walking up the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

• descend
• dismount
• alight
• get down
• disembark
• detrain
• deplane

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• get in
• embark
• mount
• board
• climb (aboard)
• entrain
• emplane
• enplane

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective light contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of light are easy, effortless, facile, simple, and smooth. While all these words mean "not demanding effort or involving difficulty," light stresses freedom from what is burdensome.

a light teaching load

When is easy a more appropriate choice than light?

In some situations, the words easy and light are roughly equivalent. However, easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks.

an easy college course

When is it sensible to use effortless instead of light?

The words effortless and light can be used in similar contexts, but effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness.

moving with effortless grace

How do facile and easy relate to one another, in the sense of light?

Facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness.

facile answers to complex questions

When could simple be used to replace light?

The synonyms simple and light are sometimes interchangeable, but simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent.

a simple problem in arithmetic

Where would smooth be a reasonable alternative to light?

Although the words smooth and light have much in common, smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles.

a smooth ride

Phrases Containing light

• bring to light
• green light
• light bulb
• light (on or upon)
• light into
• red light
• trip the light fantastic