Thesaurus

brilliant

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

adjective

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Synonyms & Antonyms of brilliant

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 giving off or reflecting much light

a brilliant chandelier graces the hotel lobby

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2 having or showing quickness of mind

a brilliant boy who left for college at the age of 16

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3 likely to attract attention

a brilliant example of government waste

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subtle

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brilliant

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms of brilliant (Entry 2 of 2)

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 for brilliant

gem,
gemstone,
jewel,
rock
[slang]

Words Related to brilliant

birthstone

Near Antonyms for brilliant

rough

Frequently Asked Questions About brilliant

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.