Synonyms of radiant

radiant

adjective

ˈrā-dē-ənt 

1

as in bright

having or being an outward sign of good feelings (as of love, confidence, or happiness)

she left the interview with a radiant smile on her face, confident she had gotten the job

a radiant bride

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bright
• glowing
• smiling
• sunny
• cheerful
• gleaming
• dazzling
• joyful
• beaming
• shining
• luminous
• aglow
• laughing
• merry
• happy
• brilliant
• satisfied
• effulgent
• delighted
• starry
• optimistic
• blissful
• refulgent
• cheery
• mirthful
• chipper
• upbeat
• jovial
• pleased
• blithe
• joyous
• rosy
• gladsome
• gay
• thankful
• lightsome
• blooming
• blithesome
• jocund
• gratified
• chuffed
• tickled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stoic
• listless
• flat
• stoical
• blank
• unemotional
• black
• dark
• gray
• grey
• melancholy
• sullen
• gloomy
• glum
• dismal
• depressing
• glaring
• darkening
• frowning
• lowering
• glowering
• louring
• scowling

2

as in luminous

giving off or reflecting much light

from the plane we could see the statehouse's radiant gold dome

Synonyms & Similar Words

• luminous
• glowing
• shining
• dazzling
• bright
• shiny
• gleaming
• shimmering
• brilliant
• effulgent
• refulgent
• incandescent
• lustrous
• sparkling
• flickering
• flashing
• lambent
• blazing
• beaming
• lucent
• glittering
• glistening
• splendid
• lucid
• fulgent
• clear
• candescent
• burning
• fiery
• polished
• blinding
• flaming
• bedazzling
• shined
• sheeny
• sunny
• ardent
• twinkling
• shimmery
• glancing
• glaring
• scintillant
• scintillating
• winking
• red-hot
• burnished
• flaring
• gemmy
• glimmering
• aglitter
• glinting
• combusting
• glistering
• agleam
• ablaze
• coruscant
• ultrabright
• superbright

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dim
• dull
• dark
• dusky
• blackened
• lackluster
• darkened
• sombre
• gloomy
• somber
• obscure
• darkling
• darkish
• pitch-black
• dimmed
• unlit
• lightless
• obscured
• pitch-dark
• cloudy
• darksome
• shadowy
• murky
• pale
• gray
• grey
• unbright
• unbrilliant
• shady
• sunless
• tenebrous
• leaden
• shadowlike
• palish

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective radiant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of radiant are bright, brilliant, luminous, and lustrous. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

In what contexts can bright take the place of radiant?

The words bright and radiant can be used in similar contexts, but bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is it sensible to use brilliant instead of radiant?

Although the words brilliant and radiant have much in common, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

When can luminous be used instead of radiant?

While in some cases nearly identical to radiant, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When would lustrous be a good substitute for radiant?

The meanings of lustrous and radiant largely overlap; however, lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of radiant

The post included multiple photos of her picnic proposal featuring her favorite fast food, Taco Bell, plus snaps of her radiant marquise diamond engagement ring. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025

The gallery opens with the couple lounging on a white couch — Gomez looking radiant in her wedding dress, and Blanco dressed in a black-and-white tuxedo. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2025

Dean’s star power is radiant and fueled by more than just charisma. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2025

Valeria Golino—the evening’s radiant hostess—went dramatic in all black, complete with a sculptural neckline. —Sofia Viganò, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2025