bright 1 of 2

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as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a company that is always looking for bright, ambitious college graduates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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bright

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adverb

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bright colors
vivid colors
vibrant colors
brilliant colors
bold colors
loud colors
a bright day
a sunny day
a clear day
a brilliant day
a dazzling day
a sunshiny day
a bright future
a good future
a hopeful future
a brilliant future
a vibrant future
a sunny future
bright students
smart students
intelligent students
sharp students
brilliant students
brainy students

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bright differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bright are brilliant, luminous, lustrous, and radiant. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is brilliant a more appropriate choice than bright?

While the synonyms brilliant and bright are close in meaning, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

In what contexts can luminous take the place of bright?

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

When would lustrous be a good substitute for bright?

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

When might radiant be a better fit than bright?

Although the words radiant and bright have much in common, radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

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 bright
Adjective
Numerous expansive windows let in natural light so the interior living space is bright. David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2025 Thanks to a skylight that pours sunshine all the way down, every floor feels bright and connected. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025 The color is brighter and motion is smoother in sports mode. Christopher Murray, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025 Each sandwich is finished with a spoonful of bright and spicy tomato sauce. Lindsey Tramuta, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
Adjective
  • The real shining gem of Pokémon's eighth generation was Legends: Arceus.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Sure, the Currys should get another stab at it on Monday, when the Warriors make their annual trek to Charlotte and Steph Curry’s yearly shining moment in uptown takes place.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Plus, their cheerful blooms and tall stems ensure these flowers will be a striking addition to any landscape.
    Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Washington earlier this month abruptly suspended military aid to Ukraine following a heated exchange between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, just hours after the cheerful TSMC ceremony.
    Wayne Chang, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • People have been dreaming about intelligent humanoid robots since the introduction of the beloved family maid Rosey on The Jetsons in the early 1960s.
    Jim McGregor, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Beyond being intelligent, ethical, musically talented, and dedicated; Emily is a true arts-passionate individual.
    Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • One promising method for addressing this demand is through collaborations between individuals and brands.
    Rafael Schwarz, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Tenacious when tackling and unafraid of a high-intensity sprint (whether getting forward or tracking back), he is considered a promising talent.
    Carl Anka, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That may imply Ukrainian brigades are leaving Kursk, and giving up much of the terrain Zelensky hoped to trade back to Russia in exchange for a favorable ceasefire.
    David Axe, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • In addition to this, negotiations about money, financial support, loans, taxes and mortgages will be favorable.
    Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In addition to the ensemble prize, Short also won outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series.
    Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Densmore also had three outstanding warrants out of Illinois.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Everything about this adaptation is radiant — from Cinderella’s glowing blue ballgown to the heartrending relationship between the Prince (a dashing Richard Madden) and his aging father (Branagh favorite Derek Jacobi).
    Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The custom engagement ring is a 2 carat, elongated radiant natural diamond on a 14-karat yellow gold band Gary Striewski is gearing up to walk down the aisle!
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Most avalanche accidents happen on the first sunny day after a storm when people get antsy and disregard red flags.
    Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Forecasters predict a sunny day on Tuesday before more rain settles into parts of the region Wednesday.
    Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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