brilliant 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbril-yənt How to pronounce brilliant (audio)
Definition of brilliantnext
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

brilliant

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonym Chooser

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.

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brilliant
Adjective
The always-brilliant Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve lead this year’s champ, the tale of a conservative couple whose parenting practices come under intense scrutiny by their progressive community. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 Liu would be a great first pick — funny, wickedly brilliant and savvy. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Daniels was brilliant as a rookie but played only seven games last season. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 In much of the United States, the most brilliant leaves don’t cover hillsides until October. — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
  1. dazzling
  2. clever
  3. prominent
  4. gem
  5. luminous
  6. intelligent
  7. noticeable
  8. jewel
Adjective
  • Williams and Alcaraz, who were both returning from injuries, wowed fans with dazzling rallies and impassioned play in an opening-round win before they were knocked out in the quarterfinals.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Two New York City icons shone a dazzling pink last night in honor of another icon, the great Dolly Parton, who died yesterday following a brief battle with cancer.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of dazzling
Adjective
  • The renovation took two years, and the sisters are still updating and tweaking the villa with new color schemes and clever offerings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Of course, that always creates opportunities for movies to break through and shine, thanks to clever marketing.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • Several prominent fan groups have criticised the club’s summer transfer business and requested meetings with the Everton hierarchy.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Broadly speaking, many prominent Silicon Valley companies started in a place of technological service and innovation only to have more recently shifted into the dystopia business, and public sentiment has shifted in kind.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of prominent
Noun
  • International Television Production Australia ultimately teamed up for this gem, the standout installment of the new Untold season.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Especially memorable designs include its Naga choker, wherein each gem represents ornaments worn by a different native tribe, and its Naga orchid necklace, inspired by the nearly 400 species of the flowering plant found in the region.
    — Sohini Dey, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of gem
Adjective
  • To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Armani Beauty updated the formula for mature skin, infusing it with skincare ingredients that help to keep complexions luminous and plump during wear.
    — Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026
  • At the same time, the drops have suspended pigments that melt into the skin rather than sitting on top of it, creating a more even skin tone with a natural, slightly luminous finish.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of luminous
Adjective
  • Our hardware-agnostic capabilities expedite industrial adoption of Physical AI, while building the foundation that will support the next generation of intelligent robotic systems, including industrial humanoids.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Xiaomi moves beyond Nvidia Xiaomi’s existing electric vehicles have relied on Nvidia hardware for their intelligent-driving systems.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • The 277 lb-ft of torque arrives from 2,000 rpm, and the difference is immediately noticeable.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The result is particularly noticeable in its food scene, where Middle Eastern influences sit comfortably alongside contemporary Scandinavian restaurants.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of noticeable
Noun
  • The owner of this famous jewel—still worn today by the women of the Luxembourg royal family —did not seem destined to become a grand duchess.
    — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Vienna robbery also comes less than a year after the brazen theft of jewels from the Louvre in Paris.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of jewel

Browse Nearby Words

brilliancy
brilliant
brilliantly
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Cite this Entry

“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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