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Word of the day: Effulgence
ETimes | July 11, 2026 5:39 AM CST

Certain sights seem to possess a brilliance that is difficult to describe. It might be sunlight spilling across a landscape at dawn, the glow of a full moon on calm water or the radiance that appears to surround a person during a moment of great happiness. Language often reaches for vivid words to capture such brightness, and effulgence is one of the most evocative. The term conveys more than ordinary light; it suggests a striking, almost dazzling splendour that commands attention. Frequently found in literature, poetry and descriptive writing, it is used to express a sense of luminous beauty , brilliance or radiant glory.


What does the word Effulgence mean

Effulgence refers to a brilliant radiance, shining brightness or splendid glow. It can describe both physical light and a figurative sense of splendour, beauty or excellence that seems to shine forth.

Pronunciation of the word Effulgence

  • Phonetic pronunciation: /ɪˈfʌldʒəns/
  • Simple pronunciation: ih-FUL-juhns
  • The stress falls on the syllable: FUL

Origin of the word Effulgence

The word comes from the Latin effulgere, meaning “to shine forth” or “to radiate”. It entered English through literary and scholarly usage, retaining its association with intense brightness and glowing splendour .

How to use the word Effulgence in sentences

The effulgence of the sunrise transformed the mountains into shades of gold.
Artists attempted to capture the effulgence of the evening sky on canvas.
Her smile seemed to add an unexpected effulgence to the room.
The cathedral's stained-glass windows glowed with remarkable effulgence when sunlight streamed through them.

Synonyms of Effulgence

  • Radiance
  • Brilliance
  • Luminosity
  • Splendour

Antonyms of Effulgence

  • Dimness
  • Gloom
  • Dullness
  • Darkness


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