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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of brightness
Until then, keep an eye out for Venus, the planet named after the Roman goddess of love, which will reach peak brightness on Feb. 14—just in time for Valentine’s Day.
—
Simmone Shah, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025
When to watch Venus at its brightest The second planet from the sun will be at its brightest near Valentine’s Day in 2025, the Almanac said.
Stargazers can glimpse Venus at its greatest brightness on Sunday, Feb. 16.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2025
Venus will be near its maximum brightness, while the moon is both in its waxing crescent phase and at its monthly 'perigee'—its closest approach to Earth—10,500 miles nearer than average at 228,000 miles.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
On Valentine's Day (Feb. 14), its cloudy disk will be 27% illuminated and shrinking nightly but its diminishing phase exactly offsets the gain in brightness from its growing apparent size.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for brightness 
Simmone Shah, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025
When to watch Venus at its brightest The second planet from the sun will be at its brightest near Valentine’s Day in 2025, the Almanac said.
Stargazers can glimpse Venus at its greatest brightness on Sunday, Feb. 16.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2025
Venus will be near its maximum brightness, while the moon is both in its waxing crescent phase and at its monthly 'perigee'—its closest approach to Earth—10,500 miles nearer than average at 228,000 miles.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
On Valentine's Day (Feb. 14), its cloudy disk will be 27% illuminated and shrinking nightly but its diminishing phase exactly offsets the gain in brightness from its growing apparent size.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for brightness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightness
Noun
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Family circles will have wrapped themselves in the holy pleasures of the great occasion, and everywhere the grand old holiday will have been introduced with all the majesty and brilliancy which clings around the hallowed name of Christmas.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American-Statesman,
23 Dec. 2024
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The Red Planet, shining at magnitude –1.4, is 40° to the east-northeast, and the king of planets, Jove, still near its greatest brilliancy for the year at magnitude –2.8, lies 46° west-southwest of Luna.—
Michael E. Bakich,
Discover Magazine,
7 Nov. 2022
Noun
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Unfortunately, none of the Mid-Day Mouth’s colleagues publicly recognized the brilliance of their interviewing skills.—
Bob Raissman,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2025
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But nobody sets the tempo, orchestrates and measures the brilliance of Hansi Flick’s team more than Pedri, who signed a contract extension until 2030 last week.—
Pol Ballús,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Up to 40 percent off right now, the Bobs B Cute shoes offer the support of a sneaker but the lightness of a ballet slipper, which makes a perfect combo for travel.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2025
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As the game unfolded, one was left with a sense of lightness watching this Canucks team — like a weight had been lifted.—
Thomas Drance,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The snow moon will reach peak illumination Wednesday morning at 8:53 a.m. EST, according to earthsky.org.—
Simmone Shah,
TIME,
11 Feb. 2025
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How to see it The snow moon reaches peak illumination at 8:53 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 12.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The array of explosions also varied in terms of luminosity, which will aid researchers in their search for answers to dark energy and the acceleration of the universe.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
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Pink and gold pearl add luminosity, while the brand's signature blend of green tea, rice, and algae delivers hydration.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
2 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near brightness
Cite this Entry
“Brightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightness. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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