1
as in dazzling
giving off or reflecting much light
a brilliant chandelier graces the hotel lobby
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
3
as in prominent
likely to attract attention
a brilliant example of government waste
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brilliant
Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
These word puzzles all covertly reference the years-old disappearance of Charlie, Martha’s brilliant older sister.
—The Know, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
As with the rest of the hotel, rooms and suites blend extreme comfort and modern convenience with antique beauty, atmosphere and brilliant art.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Simple yet kind of brilliant, no?
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Adjective
The brilliant reds and gold of the willows and poplars and the bright yellows and pale greens of frostbitten underbrush stood out against the backdrop of the mountain slopes, which were clad in the darker green of spruce and pine and topped with a fall of snow from the last few nights.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
These word puzzles all covertly reference the years-old disappearance of Charlie, Martha’s brilliant older sister.
—The Know, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
As with the rest of the hotel, rooms and suites blend extreme comfort and modern convenience with antique beauty, atmosphere and brilliant art.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Simple yet kind of brilliant, no?
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
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Best Things to Do The Grandin Theatre Showing new and classic movies, The Grandin Theatre anchors the historic Grandin Village district with its dazzling art deco design and an illuminated marquee that transports visitors to the golden age of cinema.—
Julekha Dash,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
-
Miranda Lambert wears a black outfit with a dazzling blue statement necklace at the Billboard Country Power Players 2026 event on June 3 in Nashville.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
The sale features impressive savings on patio furniture, area rugs, Adirondack chairs, and clever storage solutions that make handling household clutter easy.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
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June 2026 As Motto by Hilton’s second property in Mexico, Motto by Hilton Guadalajara Centro Historico will bring the brand’s clever, connected offerings to Guadalajara’s historic district.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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Her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, is a prominent television writer.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
In the microbiome of mice with worse survival, the researchers also noticed that one strain of bacteria — Sangeribacter muris KT1-3 — was most prominent.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Multicolor round beads sat across the lower lace area, while gem embellishments covered the toe box of the low-cut silhouette and continued around the collar.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
6 June 2026
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Residents try to keep this coastal gem hush-hush, but can't seem to keep the idyllic scenery, trendy shops, and great restaurants entirely under wraps.—
Kira Turnbull,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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This luminous dual-timeline novel follows two couples with ties to El Salvador and the threads of war, loss and love that unite them.—
Caroline Killilea,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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As the title states, this one gets under your skin and features a committed, luminous performance from Johansson.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Future EVs may function as intelligent assistants, constantly analyzing conditions and offering guidance in the background.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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The Brazilian stands at 183cm (6ft) and is very intelligent at using his body to maximise any attempt to win the ball.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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For those accustomed to smoother Pixar rides, the shifts in rhythm might be a tad too noticeable, but Lasseter, who also penned the script along with Dan Fogelman, the late Joe Ranft, Kiel Murray & Phil Lorin and Jorgen Klubien, still manages to cross the finish line in style.—
Michael Rechtshaffen,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2026
-
The loss of weight is definitely noticeable.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Unsurprisingly, owing to the brand’s long legacy of crafting exquisite jewels, aesthetics rule at Bulgari hotels.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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The crown jewel here is the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of geologically young dormant volcanoes inactive for 10,000 years.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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