bright 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
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

5
6
7
8
9
10

bright

2 of 2

adverb

Try This Instead

For
Try This
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
Here’s one that’s also extremely interesting to me based on some of our brightest experts predicting the kinds of human-computer interactions that look and seem authentic to the human user. John Werner, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 The trailer unfolded to the atmospheric music of Nine Inch Nails and overflows with atmospheric details — bright red bikes race down highways, slicing cop cars in half. Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025 Both O’Mara and McMahon believe that Pickle has a bright future ahead. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 Apr. 2025 No other reason to keep him from the bright lights. Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 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
  • Suddenly, everyone’s wardrobe is far more cheerful, nature is blooming in every corner, and our favorite brands begin unveiling fresh colorways inspired by the season’s change.
    Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The Many Faces of Organizational Silence Toxic positivity isn't just about being excessively cheerful.
    Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Everything about this washer dryer is convenient, including the intelligent dispenser that holds enough detergent and softener for up to 32 loads.
    Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Untangling a relationship with SpaceX Some of the most intelligent questions came from US Sen. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the most promising applications is workforce assistance, particularly in industries facing labor shortages, such as healthcare.
    Melody Brue, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The bottom of the Jezero Crater – believed to have formed 3.9 billion years ago from a massive impact – is considered to be among the most promising areas on Mars to search for evidence of ancient life.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The assumption is the Wolves won’t be able to do that in each of their final five games, even with one of the league’s most favorable remaining schedules.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Negotiate favorable purchase prices, set competitive rental rates and minimize vacancy periods through effective property management.
    Ryan Barone, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Two additional persons charged – Sayed Ali, 59, of Richmond, and Stephanie Huerta, 35, of Houston – are considered fugitives, and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests, the U.S. attorney's office said.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The trouble with international prosecutions The ICC has a long list of outstanding arrest warrants, including for former dictator Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades before being deposed in 2019.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • While this cream’s key moisturizing ingredients do their thing, niacinamide balances oil production and brightens skin to reveal a more radiant, even tone.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Jojoba esters add to its silky smooth application, while ginseng extract further reduces inflammation and boosts collagen production, leaving skin looking plump and radiant.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Fans have speculated that since the first three seasons were all set in a sunny locale, the upcoming season could switch things up by spending time at a White Lotus resort in a cooler climate.
    Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Mostly sunny skies are expected in Central Florida on Sunday, Spectrum News 13 meteorologist Zach Covey said.
    Elainie Barraza, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bright

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!