Synonyms of light
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as in glow 
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as in lamp
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as in star
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as in sunrise
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as in lightweight
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as in smooth
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as in sparse
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as in graceful
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as in gentle
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as in fluffy
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as in illuminated
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as in pale
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as in pallid
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as in to burn
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as in to illumine
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as in to perch
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as in to descend
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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
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2
as in lamp
something that provides illumination
turn off the light when you go to bed
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3
as in star
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about
a leading light in the acting profession
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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
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1
as in lightweight
having little weight
the suitcase was as light as a feather after all the clothes were removed
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2
as in smooth
involving minimal difficulty or effort
a little light work was all it took to straighten up the room
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3
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
traffic on the highway seems to be very light today
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4
as in graceful
moving easily
the dancer was exceptionally light on her feet
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5
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
light punishment to fit a minor offense
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6
as in fluffy
resembling air in lightness
the waves had an especially light foam at their crests because of the strong breeze
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1
as in illuminated
filled with much light
the light, airy room is exceptionally cheerful
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2
as in pale
lacking intensity of color
we painted the walls a light blue
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1
as in to burn
to set (something) on fire
we lit the kindling before adding the heavier logs
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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
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1
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air
the bird lit on the branch and began to sing
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of light
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Retinal structure and brain activity in response to light was also measured.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Mar. 2025
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
The Dunes At Odd Sister NYC, this cocktail is made with tequila, mezcal, pineapple, bell pepper and light spice.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 14 Feb. 2025
Loading your audio article SAN FRANCISCO — The new NBA All-Star weekend format gives the winning Rising Stars team a new responsibility: the opportunity to light a fire under an All-Star club.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for light
Noun
The furor reverberated nationally after Charlene Villaseñor Black, chair of Blackwell’s Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies, posted a public message of gratitude to the Indigenous scholars who brought the issue to light.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Retinal structure and brain activity in response to light was also measured.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Similar in appearance to wicker, this natural cane material is twisted into a spiral shape to create a particularly light and breathable container.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
The Dunes At Odd Sister NYC, this cocktail is made with tequila, mezcal, pineapple, bell pepper and light spice.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
Aim for an activity that lights you up and speaks to your personal values.
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 14 Feb. 2025
Loading your audio article SAN FRANCISCO — The new NBA All-Star weekend format gives the winning Rising Stars team a new responsibility: the opportunity to light a fire under an All-Star club.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for light
Recent Examples of Synonyms for light
Noun
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The universe is setting you up for a major glow up.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
refinery29.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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And many of them worked on their glow starting months in advance.—
Justine Fisher,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Its versatile design can be placed in your living room, bedroom, or entryway to organize lamps, books, and catch-all trays.—
Kelsey Fredricks,
People.com,
1 Mar. 2025
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The lamp’s large screen and durable construction are ideal for long-term use.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
Fox News,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The stars came out to shine for the Trojans as Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watkins each scored 22 points in the victory.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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The young star played Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live from 1994 to 1997, and then went on to play Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 1997 to 2000.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The moon will produce a striking crescent sun at sunrise, giving northeastern states the best views.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
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How To See the Aurora To have the best chance of spotting the northern lights over this weekend—and, also, in general—the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends looking skyward either just after sunset, or just before sunrise.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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To use a poker analogy, Apple has called the UK’s bluff against a glare of negative publicity.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
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Pasteur struggled to make out the path in the glare of sunlight bouncing off the ice.—
Carl Zimmer,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Beyond all the usual advice (proper watering, lighting and soil), Hamell says the secret is connecting with your plant.—
Isaac Avilucea,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
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Brands are already experimenting with these to replace traditional photo shoots, creating hyper-realistic visuals that accurately replicate textures, lighting and dimensions across diverse contexts.—
Tal Lev-Ami,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As for Reacher’s allies, Duffy’s a federal agent with a thick Boston accent who shares a lot of Reacher’s personality quirks.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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So many of them look so bland and lack personality.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The world's tallest and second-fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, has reached its final days, as demolition crews prepare to implode the iconic ride that has towered over Six Flags Great Adventure for nearly 20 years.—
Mike Davis,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
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On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic, and four days later, U.S. states began to order shutdowns and travel restrictions.—
Danial Adkison,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Light.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/light. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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