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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of brilliant
Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Emma Durkin's brilliant free kick from just outside the box in the seventh minute is the difference in the match at the break.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth Banks is Lindy Littlejohn, a seriously frustrated writer, unhappily if tumultuously married to Les (Matthew Macfadyen), a brilliant scientist.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Concrète Waves feels less like an intergenerational face-off and more like a meeting of brilliant minds on the same terms.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Adjective
At its heart is the bright and brilliant chef-owner, Claire Hanrahan, our One To Watch in The UK's Top New Restaurant Awards.
—Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
Emma Durkin's brilliant free kick from just outside the box in the seventh minute is the difference in the match at the break.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth Banks is Lindy Littlejohn, a seriously frustrated writer, unhappily if tumultuously married to Les (Matthew Macfadyen), a brilliant scientist.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Concrète Waves feels less like an intergenerational face-off and more like a meeting of brilliant minds on the same terms.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
-
His skating was dazzling throughout the evening, and his chemistry with Rickard Rakell is clear.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
There's a dazzling cigar lounge and bar, both conceived by none other than hotel designer of the moment, Martin Brudnizki (of Annabel’s; Fouquets; and Fifth Avenue Hotel fame); a sleek omakase restaurant; and even a 4,000-year-old fossil parked unassumingly outside a set of toilets (not kidding).—
Divia Thani,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Outside of being a clever marketing tactic, the controversy over the movie was also the natural result of a pre-internet time when Faces of Death was more talked about than actually seen.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The clever tuning of the suspension and the steering wheel -- that's what our engineers are incredibly skilled at.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Take, for example, Wiseman's words on one of Orientale's prominent features.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
George Welsh’s father, James, was a prominent and wealthy real estate magnate in Kansas City.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Aside from being a practical closet staple, the reviews really convinced me that this dress is a gem.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The brutal winter took out much of Southold Town Beach's sand and parking lot, forcing the North Fork gem to close for swimming this summer.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In wet winters, the valleys beyond town awaken in color as sand verbena, desert sunflower, evening primrose and pincushion gather in brief, luminous blooms across the desert floor.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
This velvety take on the trend has a luminous, eye-catching finish that shines bright on its own.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Xuechun Wang, a post-doctoral researcher at QMUL, specializes in applying machine learning algorithms to building intelligent sensors.—
Maureen Mackey , Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Rats are also highly intelligent.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Nigel Hughes, who tracks housing markets across the country, says there has already been a noticeable shift.—
Brad Hamilton,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But political observers say many Georgia taxpayers could see a noticeable reduction in taxes in the years ahead.—
David Wickert,
AJC.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Following Princess Margaret’s death in 2002, its whereabouts remained unclear, adding to its reputation as a missing royal jewel.—
Christopher Luu,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The Broward Center, built in 1991, is a critical economic jewel for the city, Hooper said.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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