brilliant 1 of 2

1
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

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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
Maybe Świątek was going to be one of those tennis shooting stars, flashing across the sky in a brilliant streak only to disappear, leaving everyone to speculate on what happened for decades to come. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 12 July 2025 The previous Lumière with Guillermo was a brilliant night. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 July 2025 The growing number of robots in its warehouses is yet more evidence of this brilliant truth. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 My graduate school advisor, the brilliant Mary Sheriff, always insisted that scholarship had to follow the object, not the other way around. Libby Buck july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for brilliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brilliant
Adjective
  • Decades later, in 2019, Irishman Shane Lowry—buoyed by a dazzling third-round 63—won his first major in runaway fashion on these same dunes, igniting a raucous celebration across the island.
    Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • There, game drives reveal elephants wading through papyrus channels, leopards draped over fig branches, and a dazzling array of birdlife.
    Marni Granston, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • The bar is a buzzy and boozy affair from 5 to 6 p.m. daily, where guests and locals gather in a ritualistic ceremony to visit and try some of the clever cocktails (like the Tropical Storm and Drunken Pimento) for which Ooshan has become known.
    Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the firm’s head (Beau Bridges), is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • That’s why one of the race’s most prominent sponsorships—the official jersey provider—has been controversial among riders for decades.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 12 July 2025
  • The largest and most prominent piece in the exhibit, which runs through Oct. 19, is not by its main subject, 18th century artist George Romney.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Now’s your chance to save on all sorts of smart home improvement gems—no coupon needed.
    Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 8 July 2025
  • Perfect for those who want a Yosemite vista without the more strenuous hikes, Artist Point is an accessible gem that never disappoints.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • No white cast, no excessive rubbing—just luminous skin that’s shielded by SPF45 protection.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 10 July 2025
  • Ali had ceased looking towards the horizon long before the luminous blue of it became a mock memory.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Operation Bounce House follows Oliver Lewis, a colonist on the planet New Sonora, who leads a simple life on his family ranch, playing with his band and tending to his family's selection of intelligent agriculture bots.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • These earbuds feature intelligent noise control, which removes up to twice as much background noise as previous AirPods models.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some people find that getting a tan makes their acne less noticeable, but these effects are temporary.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 July 2025
  • Speaking of titles with a noticeable presence on the streaming originals list is Stranger Things, which hasn’t debuted any new episodes in three years.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • However, the jewel of the hotel is its shimmering heated saltwater pool.
    Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2025
  • Kardashian's jewels also featured two Lorraine Schwartz necklaces with approximately 250 carats of diamonds.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brilliant. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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