brilliance

noun

bril·​liance ˈbril-yən(t)s How to pronounce brilliance (audio)
Synonyms of brilliancenext
: the quality or state of being brilliant

Examples of brilliance in a Sentence

The professor was known for his brilliance. the brilliance of a diamond
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And Steve—convinced of his own brilliance—was impossible to manage. Geoffrey Cain, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026 Harden has a mixed bag of brilliance and failing colossally short over his 17 career playoff runs (33 series). Joe Vardon, New York Times, 10 May 2026 One who is both fascinated and tortured by the brilliance of another. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 May 2026 Without proper direction, even brilliance can become counterproductive – another lesson leaders can keep in mind when managing their own flocks. Aditya Simha, The Conversation, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for brilliance

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brilliance was in 1748

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brilliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brilliance. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

brilliance

noun
bril·​liance ˈbril-yən(t)s How to pronounce brilliance (audio)
: the quality or state of being brilliant

More from Merriam-Webster on brilliance

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster