brilliant 1 of 2

Definition of brilliantnext
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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

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brilliant

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noun

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective brilliant differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of brilliant are bright, luminous, lustrous, and radiant. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

When could bright be used to replace brilliant?

While in some cases nearly identical to brilliant, bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When is it sensible to use luminous instead of brilliant?

While the synonyms luminous and brilliant are close in meaning, luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When would lustrous be a good substitute for brilliant?

The words lustrous and brilliant can be used in similar contexts, but lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

Where would radiant be a reasonable alternative to brilliant?

Although the words radiant and brilliant have much in common, radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brilliant
Adjective
In Proof, how has playing Robert, who’s brilliant but also struggles with mental health, stretched or transformed your range? Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026 The ability to pursue scientific discovery, develop new surgical techniques and work alongside brilliant colleagues to save and improve lives is one of the greatest privileges imaginable. Ben Carson, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026 The ring features a 12-carat sapphire set in a halo of 14 round brilliant diamonds. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 26 June 2026 Then a plane of white under a brilliant, cloudless blue sky. Danielle Parker, CBS News, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
  • Listing soon, while the numbers are still dazzling, could be strategic.
    Ashley Capoot,Kate Rooney, CNBC, 26 June 2026
  • Pop these strips on dry teeth while doing skincare or your makeup, and then brace yourself for a dazzling white outcome.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of adding more junk to your drawers, these clever gadgets actually solve kitchen dilemmas we’re all faced with.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
  • Perhaps one of these seven recently-in-theaters flicks — including a blockbuster sequel, a clever piece of folk horror, a controversial biopic, and the latest from a British film legend.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • His father, Manuel Cepeda, was a prominent figure in the Colombian Communist Party, and was assassinated in 1994 during a particularly bloody era in Colombia's internal conflict.
    David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
  • The chatbot’s responses include citations and prominent links to news outlets.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • On the New Jersey artist’s debut album, a steady stream of screwball ideas coalesce into unexpectedly existential laptop twee gems.
    Nick Ayres DeMasi, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026
  • The design features an array of glittery gems across the straps.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • The formulas leave skin looking polished, refined and incredibly healthy, creating the kind of luminous finish that feels more like skincare than traditional body care.
    Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • To speak an intention was to limit the luminous sensation of possibility.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Alan was successful, intelligent, social and well-liked.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026
  • Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions.
    David Biller, Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Evolutionary cues, emotional encoding and genetics all converge in how partners experience each other’s smell, and a noticeable shift in that experience may be worth paying attention to.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026
  • After 12 weeks, the results suggested that a tiny dose of regular exercise could yield noticeable physical benefits.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Hanson has long tried to dismantle the crown jewel of Howard’s legacy—yet after Australia’s worst mass shooting since Port Arthur, her rhetoric and Howard’s converged.
    Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • He is draped across a chair, jewels on his hand glistening, and fur rugs lining the floor.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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