BRIGHTNESS Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

brightness

noun

ˈbrīt-nəs

Definition of brightness

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

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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 brightness String lights never go out of style, and these waterproof lights from Brightown have just as much brightness as plug-in lights without needing an outlet. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026 The lamp’s bulb melts jar candles and wax from above with adjustable brightness and heat levels, and automatic timers. — Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2026 While generally a dimmer comet, recent activity has dramatically amplified 220P/McNaught’s brightness. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 The team then ran thousands of simulations, testing which combinations of globular cluster properties and dark matter distributions could reproduce the stream's observed brightness and shape. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brightness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightness

Noun

The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
So, astronomers have come up with a compromise regarding the geometry of the sun's illumination angle on Venus' disk versus its distance from Earth to determine the time of Venus' greatest brilliancy.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Definition of brilliancy

Noun

Though the character is based on the author, the rest of this smart thriller’s story is fictionalized, a playful metatake that serves as both an ode to Highsmith’s brilliance and a twisty ride that’s sure to leave audiences surprised.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
The richest and most watched football league in the world will bring us brilliance, talent, glitz and jamboree.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of brilliance

Noun

Its native structure, the twenty-two-episode season, has become a rarity in the industry, as has its default lightness.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Citruses, like bergamot and orange rind, give vanilla a bright and airy lightness, whereas aromatic notes, like lavender and geranium, smell like a garden growing around vanilla orchid vines.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of lightness

Noun

Neighborhood Roppongi has long been a haven for expats, and the creation of Roppongi Hills two decades ago has further enlivened the area with luxury boutiques, apartments, restaurants and a compelling holiday illumination.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
Artificial nighttime illumination can alter the behavior of migratory birds, insects and other nocturnal species that rely on moonlight and starlight to navigate, feed and reproduce, the coalition says.

— Jean Lee, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of illumination

Noun

In June, astronomers noted a surface eruption increased the comet’s luminosity by almost 10 magnitudes—making it around 8,000 times brighter than usual.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
The top is a thick slab of sandblasted acrylic that lends the surface a serene luminosity.

— Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of luminosity

Browse Nearby Words

brightly

brightness

brigs

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“Brightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightness. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of brightness

noun

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