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
Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
And his off-the-cuff acceptance speech at SAG did a brilliant job of tying the award into the metanarrative of his career.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Edgar-Jones will play Sadie Green, a brilliant game designer.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
The real horror in Frankenstein was a brilliant man who unleashed power and retreated from accountability.
—Tom Debley, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Adjective
New York defended its vacated cage effectively for the entire time, but scored just once off a brilliant setup by Matthew Schaefer for Heineman’s deflection.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
And his off-the-cuff acceptance speech at SAG did a brilliant job of tying the award into the metanarrative of his career.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Edgar-Jones will play Sadie Green, a brilliant game designer.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
The real horror in Frankenstein was a brilliant man who unleashed power and retreated from accountability.
—Tom Debley, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
-
The Lakers figured it out Friday behind a dazzling 44-point performance from Doncic, who leads the NBA with 10 40-point games this season.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Sporting their dazzling, six-petal, nectar-rich yellow flowers as early as mid-February, trout lilies (two species in Georgia) are some of the state’s earliest blooming native wildflowers.—
Charles Seabrook,
AJC.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Each clever trap lands with festive flair, proving that Windsor’s women really run the show.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Career conversations ask for calm leadership as the vibrant Sun embraces clever Mercury in your 10th House of Respect, invigorating you with ambitious potential.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most prominent political rival, Imamoglu stands accused by prosecutors of leading a criminal organization.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Among the most prominent findings from community outreach, which included surveys, walkabouts, pop-up events and a builder’s breakfast, were concerns about traffic speeding, inadequate lighting, lack of street trees and the absence of a cohesive identity for the corridor.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike a solitaire ring which features a single prominent gem, eternity bands can be customized with multiple stones to maximize their symbolic meaning and stacking possibilities.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
7 Mar. 2026
-
These pristine gems of wild Florida are typically covered up and drowned out under 8 feet of brown, stagnant water held back by the Kirkpatrick Dam, which creates the Rodman Reservoir in Putnam County.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Premium long-staple 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton makes for a bedding set that’s ultra-smooth, silky, and with a luminous sheen.—
Shoko Wanger,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Exit on the other side into Manhattan, moving along wide and luminous avenues.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
An early version of the show was first staged in Seoul in 2015, seven years before the rollout of ChatGPT and the ensuing AI doomsday alarm that platform sparked about the rise of hyper-intelligent robots.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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The Manta Ray, which is known to be highly intelligent and the largest ray in the ocean, topped a popular vote two years ago to become Florida State College at Jacksonville's new mascot.—
Beth Reese Cravey,
Florida Times-Union,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The large police presence was noticeable even before the commissioners’ meeting, when 14 city police officers and sheriff’s deputies stood outside.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Fine-line flicks also made a quiet but noticeable debut on runways for Giorgio Armani Prive, Jovana Louis, and Prabal Gurung.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The jewel of Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach is well-loved for its many festivals, pristine coastline, and unique pirate-faring history.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
-
At Dries Van Noten, hair artist Olivier Schawalder secured hundreds of shining bobby pins atop models’ heads, occasionally adding golden jewels over the ears.—
Arden Fanning Andrews,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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