Entry Word: brilliance

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 the quality or state of having or giving off light <the brilliance of the flash from the camera was so intense that I was blinded for a moment afterwards>

Synonyms brightness, brilliancy, dazzle, effulgence, illumination, lightness, lucidity, luminosity, radiance, refulgence, splendor

Related Words blaze, flare, flicker, light; fluorescence, incandescence, luminescence; burnish, gloss, luster, polish, sheen, shine; fire, flame, glare, glow; flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle

Near Antonyms dimness, dullness (also dulness), gloominess, somberness; cloudiness, haziness, murkiness, obscurity; colorlessness, grayness, paleness

Antonyms blackness, dark, darkness, duskiness

2 impressiveness of beauty on a large scale <the brilliance of the palace is really quite staggering> — see magnificence