brilliance

noun

bril·​liance ˈbril-yən(t)s How to pronounce brilliance (audio)
: the quality or state of being brilliant

Examples of brilliance in a Sentence

The professor was known for his brilliance. the brilliance of a diamond
Recent Examples on the Web Chit Chaat’s particular brilliance is turning Punjabi cuisine into on-the-go fare. Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Embark on a northern lights safari by dog sled, snowcat, or snowmobile, or learn how to capture the aurora in all its brilliance during a hands-on photography workshop. Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024 Inconsistency has plagued his time on the pitch, with flashes of brilliance overshadowed by prolonged periods of ineffectiveness. Liam Canning, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The third quarter was defined by Chambers and Bowes’ offensive brilliance. Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 If Dybala keeps fit and continues to conjure moments of sheer brilliance, then Roma can be fairly confident of making it. Emmet Gates, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 From the strategic brilliance of coaches to the unmatched abilities of players and the influential roles of a coach/broadcaster, an esteemed owner and a dynasty-building executive, each finalist embodies the pinnacle of basketball excellence. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2024 Pittsburgh won it again the following year, with Jagr scoring the tying goal late in the third period of Game 1 of the final against Chicago, seven seconds of brilliance that Lemieux called one of the greatest goals he’s ever seen. Karel Janicek, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 As her renown increased, the media amassed a vast collection of anecdotes, brimming with rhetorical brilliance. Cynthia Greenlee, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brilliance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brilliance was in 1748

Dictionary Entries Near brilliance

Cite this Entry

“Brilliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brilliance. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

brilliance

noun
bril·​liance ˈbril-yən(t)s How to pronounce brilliance (audio)
: the quality or state of being brilliant

More from Merriam-Webster on brilliance

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