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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

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 lower the number, the brighter the object! Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2025 Primitive antiques meld seamlessly with modern creature comforts throughout the bright, airy home. Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025 Adorned with silk maple leaves, pinecones, and bright, berried branches, the 24-inch design brings a warm, welcoming touch to your front door. Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025 And the best and the brightest will want to become bureaucrats, not entrepreneurs. Ugo Troiano, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright
Adjective
  • The best shining example of something that was influenced by us is the British version of The Office.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • There's a Shimano shifter to the right and useful illuminated buttons to the left for adjusting PAS, sounding the horn, engaging turn signaling, and activating walk-assist.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2025
  • That will have an effect on wildlife in the directly illuminated area, but also, through atmospheric scattering, on the surrounding areas as well.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • If possible, insulate and add drywall to the garage, and paint the interiors a bright, cheerful color.
    Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
  • My inbox began to fill with cheerful nudges from Stephen, my editor.
    Big Think, Big Think, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Conspiracy theorists claim intelligent aliens might be observing humanity’s weapons capabilities.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
  • With the excitement and delusion of Humbert Humbert imposing a purple-prose narrative on his pedophilic assumptions, Hank speaks of his former student like a James Dean figure — beautiful, brooding and quietly intelligent.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • His career, once so promising, seemed to be slipping away.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The promising honors student had mysteriously vanished after spending an evening with friends at a local bar then leaving alone without her cellphone and stopping at a gas station next door, Houston police said.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rutgers-Eagleton’s mid-October survey mirrored that trend, finding 42 percent of voters viewed Sherrill favorably and 45 percent unfavorably, while Ciattarelli’s numbers were 41 percent favorable and 47 percent unfavorable.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Pics such as Gladiator and series including Game of Thrones have shot there, taking advantage of the favorable tax rebate system and production hubs.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The program curriculum includes contemporary case studies and experiential learning that helps students to develop strong analytical skills to become outstanding intelligence professionals.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • His journey from nervous child with an abusive father to an outstanding professional baseball player who was the MVP in 1971, and as a manager who was fired three times before taking the helm as the Yankees manager.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While black, brass, and matte finishes have dominated interiors in recent years, chrome is making a radiant return in 2025.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
  • It’s designed to be applied as a radiant base for makeup or for solo wear.
    Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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