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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective radiant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of radiant are bright, brilliant, luminous, and lustrous. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

In what contexts can bright take the place of radiant?

The words bright and radiant can be used in similar contexts, but bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is it sensible to use brilliant instead of radiant?

Although the words brilliant and radiant have much in common, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

When can luminous be used instead of radiant?

While in some cases nearly identical to radiant, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When would lustrous be a good substitute for radiant?

The meanings of lustrous and radiant largely overlap; however, lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

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 radiant Working to provide individualized treatments that prioritize both skin health and a radiant, natural glow. Michelle Lee, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025 The delights aren’t cheap, either: Kauffman loves them enough to bestow upon them the genuine, radiant, quiet, don’t blink kind of happiness. Claire Luchette, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024 Here are the 11 best vitamin C creams, moisturizers, and oils that'll help keep your skin looking radiant day in and day out. Michelle Rostamian, Allure, 30 Dec. 2024 From nourishing serums and moisturizers to radiant foundations and volumizing mascaras, these items will make your confidence shine bright. Kat Romero, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for radiant 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for radiant
Adjective
  • There’s gonna be emergency after emergency, after asteroid, after nuclear-something-or-other, after truly world-ending stuff, and then perhaps there’ll be a horizon that’s a little bit brighter all the way at the finish line.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Two tables near the center of the ballroom, where all the women seated were wearing bright red, stood out.
    Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Pair it with a touch of highlighter or luminous moisturizer to enhance the glass skin effect without going all in.
    Jessica Diner, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
  • The future of women’s sports is luminous, and for those willing to harness the power of AI, the possibilities are boundless.
    Priya Oberoi, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan initially received glowing headlines for dropping into Pasadena last Friday to serve meals, leave donations and give hugs to Eaton fire survivors.
    Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2025
  • That glowing material coalesced into the body now called the Moon.
    Francis Nimmo, JSTOR Daily, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Elsa Hosk is another shining example of this phenomenon.
    Kelsey Stiegman, Vogue, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Fullerton College’s Bachelor of Science in Drone and Autonomous Systems provides a shining example of how community colleges can meet the demands of a changing workforce.
    Ray Ravaglia, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Here’s where and when to travel this year to see the most dazzling northern lights displays of 2025.
    Passport by ForbesLife, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Most North American observers will be able to watch as the moon passes in front of more than a few stars in this cluster (called an occultation) within a few hours, amid the dazzling lunar glare.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • With them, the ownership has brought a sunny sense of optimism which often feels unique to Americans.
    Hannah Ryan, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Wednesday is forecast to be sunny, but temperatures are not expected to climb above freezing until Thursday.
    Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Concerns about personal privacy, election interference, exploitative labor practices and the toxic effects of social media scraped much of the sheen off the tech industry and its shiny gadgets, especially among Democrats.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
  • The shiny black patent finish on this pair, for example, looks super high-class like a pair of expensive heels.
    Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But Lynch, who died last week, at seventy-eight, made films in which every cheerful surface seemed to obscure an eerie reality.
    Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Videos of their vigorous, cheerful efforts soon went viral, drew international coverage and were a forceful counterpoint to Trump’s xenophobic insults.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near radiant

Cite this Entry

“Radiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/radiant. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on radiant

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