Bright early is a phrase describing an early time of day when daylight is just emerging. The antonyms for bright early would be dull late, gloomy late or dark late. These words convey the opposite of a bright and sunny start to the day. A dull late morning suggests a lack of light and energy, while gloomy late indicates a somber and subdued mood. A dark late evening could imply that the day has not been productive or that the night will be long and tiresome. Overall, the antonyms for bright early indicate a less positive and welcoming start to the day.