refulgent

American  

[ri-fuhl-juhnt] / rɪˈfʌl dʒənt /

adjective

1. shining brightly; radiant; gleaming.

   Crystal chandeliers and gilded walls made the opera house a refulgent setting for the ball.

2. very attractive or impressive; dazzling; brilliant.

   His refulgent smile brightened the day of everyone who saw it.

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refulgent British  

/ rɪˈfʌldʒənt /

adjective

1. literary shining, brilliant, or radiant

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Other Word Forms

• refulgence noun
• refulgency noun
• refulgently adverb
• refulgentness noun
• unrefulgent adjective
• unrefulgently adverb

Etymology

Origin of refulgent

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin refulgent-, stem of refulgēns, present participle of refulgēre “to radiate light”; re-, fulgent

Example Sentences

In recent years, however, the golden age has become refulgent again.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

There are few directors around with as much command of material culture as Coppola, who imbues the setting’s silks, crinolines, glassware and candle wax with refulgent depth and texture.

From Washington Post • Jun. 29, 2017

Soprano Anna Christy, although not pitch-perfect in “Stetit puella,” had a luscious, refulgent tone.

From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2016

Her alluring studies of a refulgent Smith as Rosalind in As You Like It, Millamant in The Way of the World and Amanda in Private Lives bear this out.

From The Guardian • Jan. 18, 2011

There was the same cool green light from the canopy, the same refulgent smell, the same awe-inspiring sense of variety.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann