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
Malte Kramer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Bergen felt less brilliant when the time came for her appearance.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Dinah’s brilliant-green eyes turned red.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
The film is a brilliant cinematic expansion of Xia’s reporting on the legacy of toxic dumping off the coast of Southern California.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Adjective
Someone might be nervous in an AI interview but brilliant in person.
—Malte Kramer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Bergen felt less brilliant when the time came for her appearance.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Dinah’s brilliant-green eyes turned red.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
The film is a brilliant cinematic expansion of Xia’s reporting on the legacy of toxic dumping off the coast of Southern California.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
-
The Southern Hemisphere has its own polar lights known as the southern lights, or aurora australis, which create a dazzling display of their own.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Dreyer added an assist when the 19-year-old Soma scored his first career goal — a dazzling one — in his 12th appearance for a 3-0 advantage in the 54th minute.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the most clever way to take advantage of this trend?—
Diana Tsui,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
This clever ruse thwarted the late-summer naval attack.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
References to gambling during NBA games analyzed by The Post appeared on average in 1 of every 3 minutes and were often prominent.—
Luke Connors,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
-
Romano’s sturdy book may not stint on examples of Mary’s bad behavior—including a ferociously jealous verbal assault, near the end of the war, on the wife of a prominent Union general—but the biographer keeps tilting against those who slighted Mary in even the most superficial ways.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
This rare full mansion—a Gilded Age gem—in Brooklyn's Park Slope makes a persuasive exception.—
Natalie Hoberman,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Thursday was yet another gem by Suarez, who hasn’t allowed a run in his last 19 innings and five scoreless performances in his last six starts.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Beyond its luminous core, Messier 77 is also a highly active site of star formation.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
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The Boot of Cortez, on the other hand, is 98 percent pure gold, and its rich, luminous hue exemplifies that composition.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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In a world where intelligent systems can respond to events faster than any human team, reactive leadership loses its edge.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
The device incorporates controllable blades, on-board batteries and intelligent control systems, aimed at optimizing its operation in real conditions of operation on the high seas.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
For families dealing with allergies, wildfire smoke, pets or newer homes with lingering chemical odors, upgrading to a real HEPA air purifier can make a noticeable difference.—
Ryan Brennan
May 18,
Charlotte Observer,
18 May 2026
-
Either way, the presence of the nutsedge has given a clear roadmap for corrective maintenance on an issue that often isn’t noticeable until root rot sets in.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The 1 3/16-mile long race is the middle jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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Alexis Corbière and Alexandre Portier, the French MPs overseeing the government commission investigating the shocking October 19, 2025, Louvre jewel heist, have accused the museum of deprioritizing security at the museum.—
Leigh Anne Miller,
ARTnews.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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