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
Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Smith often used celestial motifs in his work, notably in the song 'Shooting Star,' which, in hindsight, symbolizes his brief but brilliant light.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 June 2026
This week, the World Cup is afoot, a brilliant pun that, startlingly, Google says hasn't been used hundreds of times!
—Holly J. Morris, NPR, 19 June 2026
Leadership is the difference between a mob and an army, between a collection of musicians and an orchestra, between a set of brilliant individuals and an actually functional organisation.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Adjective
There was no one moment of individual brilliance, no Pulisic needed, just a brilliant sequence of actions by players who now seem tied together by strings.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Smith often used celestial motifs in his work, notably in the song 'Shooting Star,' which, in hindsight, symbolizes his brief but brilliant light.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 June 2026
This week, the World Cup is afoot, a brilliant pun that, startlingly, Google says hasn't been used hundreds of times!
—Holly J. Morris, NPR, 19 June 2026
Leadership is the difference between a mob and an army, between a collection of musicians and an orchestra, between a set of brilliant individuals and an actually functional organisation.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
-
Vinícius Junior scored a dazzling one in Brazil’s opener.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
There was a dazzling array of sneakers in every hue under the sun, including at least one pair adorned with gold sequins.—
Mary Carole McCauley,
Baltimore Sun,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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This is an Edwardian- inspired new build, so the rooms are large (starting at 290 square feet) with clever details throughout, such as reassuringly spacious showers and barista-style Morning coffee machines—a welcome upgrade on noisy Nespresso units.—
Todd Plummer,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
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With a boost from Randy Newman’s clever score, the Buzz Lightyear sections are hilarious.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
The durability of this group will play a prominent role in the defense’s overall success.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Having faced considerable losses already and staring down more to come, many of the prominent combatants spend Season 3 in an existential crisis, which lends the series a similar atmosphere.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
For a mid-day warm-up, itineraries highlight cozy neighborhood gems like Drekkamun—a new spot in Kollafjørður whose name translates directly from Faroese as ‘a cup of tea or coffee’—or the brand-new Café Otto, tucked away at the national art museum following a peaceful walk through a local park.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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Chisholm said that after Schlittler spun yet another gem, holding the middling Reds to four hits, a hit-by-pitch and zero walks over six scoreless innings in a 5-0 win for the Yankees.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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The cat-eye effect brings a rippling, water-like effect to the shade, made for you water signs who always feel most at home in something a little fluid, a little luminous, and just a bit magical.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
17 June 2026
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Having introduced that fiercely luminous piece in 2023, Dudamel brought it back in March, placing it on the second half of a concert that began with Beethoven’s Seventh.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
The human brain is the ultimate existence proof that intelligent systems that are vastly more energy-efficient than today’s AI are physically possible.—
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
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It was revered for its intelligent satire of modern society and materialism, providing sight gags and slapstick humor for kids while proving relatable for young adults learning to navigate life.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
The first slowdowns and real noticeable uptick in traffic came on I-95 south.—
Mike Sullivan,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
Warm weather can make the surge even more noticeable.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
What a privilege for our crown-jewel stadium to welcome folks from around the globe and act as an advertisement for Atlanta and our country.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
18 June 2026
-
Savopoulos makes just a handful of jewels a year, available through Symbolic & Chase’s London salon.—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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