1
as in bright
in a manner marked by the shining or reflecting of much light
the light glowed brightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheerfully
in a cheerful or happy manner
"And how are we today?" the nurse asked brightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in colorfully
in a manner that is colorful and tends to arouse gaiety
parade marchers carrying brightly painted banners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brightly
By studying this polarization, IXPE can help astronomers probe some of the deepest mysteries of the cosmos, such as why black holes spin, what powers the extreme jets blasting from supermassive black holes, or why pulsars glow so brightly in X-ray light.
—
Brett Tingley, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
While the comedic side of this rom-com could shine even more brightly with further development, the play already has a lot of heart.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Choose strawberries that are brightly colored, without mold or soft spots.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
The spotlight shines brightly on you!
—Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
That Wednesday, the rain clouds had cleared and the sun shone brightly.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
And so the magic of the North Rim blazes as brightly as ever — a truth underscored by a commitment among park officials not only to reopen the gates and begin welcoming visitors back as early as May but also to restore the lodge to its former grandeur.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
After more than 30 years, Wimberley Glassworks still flourishes and its gallery is bursting with color—plates in kaleidoscopic shades, delicate pieces glowing brightly on tables, sculptures fanning out in rainbows over the walls, as if outraged by the white paint.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Dopamine patches are stick-on, brightly colored patches sold by a variety of online outlets, and advertised as containing natural ingredients, such as mushroom and bean extract, and marketed as a product to boost concentration and increase energy.
—Helena Kudiabor, SELF, 13 Mar. 2026
Brett Tingley, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
While the comedic side of this rom-com could shine even more brightly with further development, the play already has a lot of heart.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Choose strawberries that are brightly colored, without mold or soft spots.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
The spotlight shines brightly on you!
—Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
That Wednesday, the rain clouds had cleared and the sun shone brightly.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
And so the magic of the North Rim blazes as brightly as ever — a truth underscored by a commitment among park officials not only to reopen the gates and begin welcoming visitors back as early as May but also to restore the lodge to its former grandeur.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
After more than 30 years, Wimberley Glassworks still flourishes and its gallery is bursting with color—plates in kaleidoscopic shades, delicate pieces glowing brightly on tables, sculptures fanning out in rainbows over the walls, as if outraged by the white paint.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Dopamine patches are stick-on, brightly colored patches sold by a variety of online outlets, and advertised as containing natural ingredients, such as mushroom and bean extract, and marketed as a product to boost concentration and increase energy.
—Helena Kudiabor, SELF, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightly
Adverb
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In Atlanta, my hometown airport, cheerfully marketed as the world’s busiest, had descended into organized chaos.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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In Atlanta, my hometown airport, cheerfully marketed as the world’s busiest, had descended into organized chaos.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Milton, who does it full-time, posts exquisite videos of the food, with mood music to suit the vibe of each or talks colorfully about the tastes.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
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Sean McGinley’s sound design ties it all together with atmospheric cues that bridge the eras as do Jamie Godwin’s colorfully gorgeous projection designs.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Bogdanovich’s breakthrough came in 1971 with The Last Picture Show, an ensemble drama about growing up in a small Texas town, sensitively told and luminously shot.—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
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Tarr went on to direct the accomplished The Man From London, which starred Tilda Swinton, before retiring after The Turin Horse, a luminously stark period chamber drama about a father and his adult daughter living alone in the barren Hungarian countryside over the span of about a week.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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There are a ton of local shops to rent from that will happily meet you at the ferry terminal or the airport with your rental car.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Apr. 2026
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The receptionist works behind a period cabinet converted into the sort of desk Philip Marlowe would happily put his feet on and Art Deco ornamentations abound, from the beautiful clocks, to the slightly sinister candlesticks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightly. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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