brilliant

bril·liant | \ ˈbril-yənt

How to pronounce brilliant (audio)

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Definition of brilliant

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : very bright : glittering a brilliant light

2a : striking, distinctive a brilliant example

b : distinguished by unusual mental keenness or alertness brilliant scientists

3 British : very good : excellent

brilliant

Definition of brilliant (Entry 2 of 2)

: a gem (such as a diamond) cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have special brightness or brilliance

Other Words from brilliant Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about brilliant

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Choose the Right Synonym for brilliant

Adjective

bright, brilliant, radiant, luminous, lustrous mean shining or glowing with light. bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light. brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness. radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light. luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness. lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

Examples of brilliant in a Sentence

Adjective a brilliant star in the sky a store decorated in brilliant colors He pitched a brilliant game. She gave a brilliant performance. She has a brilliant mind. Noun the diamond cutter set out an array of brilliants to show the various ways the diamond could be cut

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The Rangers signing of Lynn looks absolutely brilliant. — Dallas News, "#EvanHelpUs: An early Rangers prediction correction, the plight of prospect development and more," 30 July 2020 Once simplified, your projects are brilliant and creative. — BostonGlobe.com, "Horoscope," 5 June 2020 Moss invites us, now, to take stock of this strange and brilliant woman. — Mark Olsenstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "Indie Focus: Elisabeth Moss invokes ‘Shirley’ to fiery life," 5 June 2020 Grant was a truly brilliant engineer, artist and performer, but also just such a generous, easygoing, and gentle PERSON. — Rachel Yang, EW.com, "Grant Imahara, engineer and MythBusters host, dies at 49," 14 July 2020 And my team is scrappy and brilliant—they’ve made the transition to working from home easy. — Rachel King, Fortune, "Cosmetics industry titan Bobbi Brown eyes the next big wave in beauty," 4 July 2020 Here are some of our favorite funny, dreadful, cringeworthy, infamous, and brilliant automotive ad campaigns over the decades. — Scott Oldham, Car and Driver, "Infamous Characters from TV Commercials," 25 June 2020 Moss invites us, now, to take stock of this strange and brilliant woman. — Mark Olsenstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "Indie Focus: Elisabeth Moss invokes ‘Shirley’ to fiery life," 5 June 2020 Moss invites us, now, to take stock of this strange and brilliant woman. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, "Elisabeth Moss Channels a Strange and Brilliant Shirley Jackson in the Crackling Shirley," 3 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'brilliant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near brilliant

brilliant crocein

brilliant cutting

Statistics for brilliant

Last Updated

7 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brilliant. Accessed 8 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for brilliant

brilliant

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of brilliant

: very bright : flashing with light

: very impressive or successful

: extremely intelligent : much more intelligent than most people

See the full definition for brilliant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

brilliant

bril·liant | \ ˈbril-yənt

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Kids Definition of brilliant

1 : flashing with light : very bright brilliant jewels

2 : very impressive a brilliant career

3 : very smart or clever a brilliant student

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