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
Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Rose Byrne’s gonzo portrayal of a woman over the edge is flat-out brilliant, the most powerful thing she’s done and one of the best performances of the year.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
This brilliant collection of short stories was published in 1953, but the author wrote much of it before World War II.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Savvy social media creators are brilliant at generating buzz and driving people to check out new and lesser-known spaces.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Adjective
The style inspiration just comes from my brilliant mind.
—Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Rose Byrne’s gonzo portrayal of a woman over the edge is flat-out brilliant, the most powerful thing she’s done and one of the best performances of the year.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
This brilliant collection of short stories was published in 1953, but the author wrote much of it before World War II.
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Savvy social media creators are brilliant at generating buzz and driving people to check out new and lesser-known spaces.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
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Other events include the Cambodia Town Parade and Festival in April, June’s Long Beach Pride, and the dazzling holiday tree lighting in early December at Long Beach Terrace Theater.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
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Upstairs, entertainment opportunities abound with a full bar (including the other Dacor wine dispenser and three fridges), and a private deck with yet another fire pit for front-row views of El Dorado Hill’s most dazzling sunsets.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As in years past, there was plenty of heated debate, some clever campaigning on social media, a last-minute push for votes from A-list significant others and a few races that were neck-and-neck right up until the last ballot was cast.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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From clever packing solutions and cozy in-flight accessories, to tiny upgrades that make a huge difference midair, all of these travel hacks are pilot-approved for keeping your journey calm, clean, and surprisingly comfortable from takeoff to touchdown.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The 4-2-3-1 formation has been one of the most prominent systems used across Europe since the turn of the century, adopted by some of the best tacticians in modern football.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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While there’s some grappling between the big three, Amazon, Microsoft and Google remain by far the prominent cloud computing providers for AI applications, according to Emarketer senior analyst Jacob Bourne — and their futures depend at least in part on serving AI demand.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Astronomically, one of the best celestial gems in the traditional constellation Andromeda is the Andromeda Galaxy, otherwise known as Messier object 31.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
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Stepping inside feels like a trip back in time, with rows of vintage treasures alongside new releases and hard-to-find gems.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Stays can include Day of the Dead workshops, such as Catrina face painting; a special menu on November 1, 2025; and a luminous procession through the mangroves.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
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The formula works not just to lighten discoloration, but also to visibly shrink and smooth the look of spots for a more even, luminous complexion overall.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Mark Simon is the VP of Strategy at Celigo, a leading intelligent automation platform, where he's helped thousands of ecommerce customers including major consumer brands in their digital integration and automation journeys.—
Mark Simon,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
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These intelligent dogs are highly active and energetic, but respond well to obedience training.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But people in the control group didn’t have a noticeable change.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
23 Oct. 2025
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To economists like Zandi, however, the country still remains at high risk of entering a downturn, with inflation, softness in the labor market and noticeable declines in consumer confidence weighing on their forecasts.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Its influence ricocheted through decades of homages, from Madonna to Ryan Gosling, proof that a perfect jewel-box tableau never dulls.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
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The actor, who portrayed dapper casino thief Danny Ocean in Ocean's Eleven and its sequels, reflected on the audacious burglary in which a group of thieves stole more than $100 million worth of historic jewels from Paris' foremost museum on Sunday.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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