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
The whole sandwich is rich, savory, and bright all at once. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 July 2025 So with $400 million under his belt, DC’s iconic hero has risen to the first two challenges, and faces just one more weekend to confirm how bright an already sunny future will be. Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025 Jimenez wears wigs for her performances, applies waterproof makeup to keep her mermaid face bright and friendly and has to protect her hair and body from the sun, the salt and other chemicals in the water. Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 July 2025 Refreshing, vibrant, and very satisfying with a bright cleansing finish. Liz Thach, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
Adjective
  • Attendees rode in support of and alongside community member Eva Zamora, who is a shining example of how to live your best life with Parkinson’s disease and takes cycle classes at EōS regularly, a news release stated.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Her next shining moment comes when two young sisters enter the hospital.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • From the cast member who clocked my son’s pin collection–and then pointed out the hotel’s own trading station—to our cheerful server at the Lava Pool, who came equipped with sandwich recommendations, everyone was consistently helpful and attentive.
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2025
  • Kurt's key takeaways The Elmo hack shattered more than just a cheerful digital persona.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • Operation Bounce House follows Oliver Lewis, a colonist on the planet New Sonora, who leads a simple life on his family ranch, playing with his band and tending to his family's selection of intelligent agriculture bots.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • Although not specifically marketed as a pet camera, the Eufy E220 is a budget-friendly indoor home security camera packed with typically more high-end features, including remote pan and tilt, sharp 2K video footage, automatic motion tracking, and intelligent motion and sound detection.
    Cierra Cowan July 11, PC Magazine, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Women's health tech faces a trust gap Even with these promising results, trust remains a major barrier in women's health technology.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, Netflix is developing a Pride and Prejudice series with a promising cast that includes Emma Corrin as Elizabeth and Jack Lowden as Darcy.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • Brussels has exempted defense expenditure from its strict rules on government spending and pledged to create a €150 billion fund from which countries can borrow, at favorable interest rates, to invest in their defense.
    Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
  • Mahaney’s estimates are based on favorable industry checks for consumer demand trends, third-party data checks, and Evercore’s non-deal roadshows (NDR) with UBER management.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • Straight out of the Chris Jones playbook, Banks uses his length to create movement, and his effort from the backside is outstanding.
    Dane Brugler, New York Times, 22 July 2025
  • The film had an outstanding run at the box office, opening with a record-breaking $183 million Memorial Day weekend debut.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • The best time to view a meteor shower is typically between midnight and dawn, when the sky is darkest and the radiant point, where the meteors appear to come from, is highest in the sky.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 18 July 2025
  • Her radiant spirit, infectious laughter, and boundless compassion made an unforgettable impact on everyone lucky enough to know her.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • Warm, sunny weather optimizes the conditions for this sort of reaction, meaning unhealthy ozone levels are often seen in the summer.
    Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • On Tuesday, July 22, the forecast high is 88 degrees under sunny skies.
    Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 22 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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