brilliant 1 of 2

1
2
as in clever
having or showing quickness of mind a brilliant boy who left for college at the age of 16

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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brilliant

2 of 2

noun

as in gem
a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament the diamond cutter set out an array of brilliants to show the various ways the diamond could be cut

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective brilliant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of brilliant are bright, luminous, lustrous, and radiant. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

When could bright be used to replace brilliant?

While in some cases nearly identical to brilliant, bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is it sensible to use luminous instead of brilliant?

While the synonyms luminous and brilliant are close in meaning, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When would lustrous be a good substitute for brilliant?

The words lustrous and brilliant can be used in similar contexts, but lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

Where would radiant be a reasonable alternative to brilliant?

Although the words radiant and brilliant have much in common, radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

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 brilliant
Adjective
Maybe Świątek was going to be one of those tennis shooting stars, flashing across the sky in a brilliant streak only to disappear, leaving everyone to speculate on what happened for decades to come. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 12 July 2025 The previous Lumière with Guillermo was a brilliant night. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 July 2025 The growing number of robots in its warehouses is yet more evidence of this brilliant truth. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 My graduate school advisor, the brilliant Mary Sheriff, always insisted that scholarship had to follow the object, not the other way around. Libby Buck july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
  • Decades later, in 2019, Irishman Shane Lowry—buoyed by a dazzling third-round 63—won his first major in runaway fashion on these same dunes, igniting a raucous celebration across the island.
    Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • With high level visuals being a key characteristics of both Insomniac and Tomorrowland events, the production for UNITY is highly anticipated and expected to be similarly dazzling.
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the firm’s head (Beau Bridges), is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 15 July 2025
  • The bar is a buzzy and boozy affair from 5 to 6 p.m. daily, where guests and locals gather in a ritualistic ceremony to visit and try some of the clever cocktails (like the Tropical Storm and Drunken Pimento) for which Ooshan has become known.
    Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • In March 2019, authorities arrested and charged more than 50 people, including coaches, test administrators, prominent CEOs, and the Hollywood stars.
    Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
  • The chief umpire’s role is a prominent one that involves communicating decisions live on TV and often fronting up afterwards to explain them.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • Beginning in Málaga, the journey winds through Andalucía's cultural gems — Granada, Sevilla and Córdoba — offering golden-hour shoots at iconic sites like La Alhambra and Plaza de España.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 19 July 2025
  • These three Top 70 Open Championship venues are the anchor and main draw, but there is more great links golf, and my personal favorite hidden gem within this hidden gem destination was Wallasey.
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • Made with soothing, hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E, the sunscreen lotion has a luminous finish that gives the skin a summery, just-back-from-Bondi-beach glow.
    Jenny Berg, Allure, 21 July 2025
  • Arizona's Emerald Cave, also known as Emerald Cove, shimmers with luminous green light.
    Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • Operation Bounce House follows Oliver Lewis, a colonist on the planet New Sonora, who leads a simple life on his family ranch, playing with his band and tending to his family's selection of intelligent agriculture bots.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • Some incredibly intelligent breeds, such as Border collies, German shepherds and poodles, are known for regularly hitting 1,000-word milestones.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some people find that getting a tan makes their acne less noticeable, but these effects are temporary.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 July 2025
  • While Skai did point out noticeable shedding in the front of her hair, her overall appearance looks healthy.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • However, the jewel of the hotel is its shimmering heated saltwater pool.
    Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2025
  • Kardashian's jewels also featured two Lorraine Schwartz necklaces with approximately 250 carats of diamonds.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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