brilliance

noun

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

Example Sentences

The professor was known for his brilliance. the brilliance of a diamond
Recent Examples on the Web The landscapes of Mahler’s imagination —the Alpine vistas against which the composer’s conceptions of fate, exaltation, and acceptance play out — had the crisp, outsized brilliance of a digital billboard. Vulture, 22 May 2023 Tatum, who hit just seven 3-pointers in his previous 181-plus minutes of this series, hit four in a three-minute, 37-second stretch when the Celtics needed his brilliance. Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2023 The brilliance of that show, which earned a Grammy and five Emmy nods, was in its format and structure. Joshua Alston, Variety, 21 Apr. 2023 But the film is also marked by a tonal opposite when Monk plays: the rhythmic, harmonic brilliance of his work in full flight, even as the isolating setting gives the performances the feeling of a release valve, and perhaps at the same time, one more turn inward. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2023 Now, for the best part: Clark’s brilliance will be on display on college basketball’s biggest stage this weekend, and many are sure to watch. Lindsay Schnell, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2023 But over the show's seven seasons, Elementary proved to have its own brilliance, a sharp, thoughtful take that relocated the detective to modern-day New York City. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2023 Eovaldi’s brilliance aided a Rangers offense that scored fewer than four runs in a win for just the second time this season. Shawn Mcfarland, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2023 Cut into a cushion-shape brilliant with an unprecedented 82 facets to maximize its fire and brilliance, the Tiffany Diamond was discovered in South Africa’s Kimberley mines in 1877 and famously exhibited at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brilliance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brilliance was in 1748

Dictionary Entries Near brilliance

Cite this Entry

“Brilliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brilliance. Accessed 1 Jun. 2023.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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