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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The display’s brightness was more of an issue than its color coverage. — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026 Critically, though, the display’s brightness level remains uniform across the panel, unlike in a display using a FALD backlight. — ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026 The white-hot brightness of Diana’s spotlight also ensnared her brother, Charles Spencer. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026 Razer claims the battery will last up to 200 hours with the RGB lighting off, or up to 50 hours with the lights at half brightness. — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brightness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightness

Noun

Greatest brilliancy marks the sweet spot between the two, when Venus' apparent size and shrinking phase combine to give us the greatest apparent area of illuminated Venus in our sky.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Sep. 2026
The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Definition of brilliancy

Noun

There is always some lightness, if only to counter the occasionally unbearable weight.

— Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Bottega Veneta had a beautiful balance between craftsmanship, texture and lightness, with pieces that felt special without becoming overcomplicated.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of lightness

Noun

The new trio combines 3-chip 3LCD projection with laser-array illumination, HDR support, full 4K on-screen output, and high-frame-rate inputs up to 120 Hz across the lineup.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026
Since the harvest moon will reach peak illumination after the sun rises, its radiance will appear more diminished than during the nighttime.

— Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of illumination

Noun

Call it transcendental, the character’s deepening sense of luminosity, the way his empathy heightens as his consciousness expands.

— David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
A matter of distance and brightness The stars that compose the Triangle — Vega, Altair, and Deneb — lie at very unequal distances from us, so their apparent brightness can give a misleading impression of their true luminosity.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of luminosity

Browse Nearby Words

brightly

brightness

brigs

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Brightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightness. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of brightness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes