brilliant

1 of 2

adjective

bril·​liant ˈbril-yənt How to pronounce brilliant (audio)
Synonyms of brilliant
1
: very bright : glittering
a brilliant light
2
a
: striking, distinctive
a brilliant example
b
: distinguished by unusual mental keenness or alertness
brilliant scientists
3
British : very good : excellent
brilliantly adverb

brilliant

2 of 2

noun

: a gem (such as a diamond) cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have special brightness or brilliance

Illustration of brilliant

Illustration of brilliant
  • 1 table
  • 2 bezel
  • 3 girdle
  • 4 pavilion
  • 5 culet

Synonyms of brilliant

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Adjective

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for brilliant

bright, brilliant, radiant, luminous, lustrous mean shining or glowing with light.

bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

Examples of brilliant in a Sentence

Adjective a brilliant star in the sky a store decorated in brilliant colors He pitched a brilliant game. She gave a brilliant performance. She has a brilliant mind. Noun the diamond cutter set out an array of brilliants to show the various ways the diamond could be cut
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Tomlin played the brilliant Violet Newstead, a widow who was passed over for a promotion despite being the most qualified person for the job. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 And in the summer working, caring for the garden, cultivating my plants, my food, inhaling the sun, seeing my skin become brown just as the flowers are also growing their colours, and my beloved garden plants are delivering their brilliant food. — Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026 The showjumping World Championship is designed to reward not a rider who has one brilliant afternoon, but a combination that can perform over an entire week. — Gemma Redrup, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 But the Delgado’s don’t suddenly become brilliant homesteaders, quite the opposite. — Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brilliant

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French brillant, present participle of briller to shine, from Italian brillare

Noun

borrowed from French brillant, noun derivative of brillant brilliant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1690, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brilliant was circa 1681

Rhymes for brilliant

See All Rhymes for brilliant

Browse Nearby Words

brilliandeer
brilliant
brilliant crocein
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Cite this Entry

“Brilliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brilliant. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

brilliant

1 of 2 adjective
bril·​liant ˈbril-yənt How to pronounce brilliant (audio)
1
: flashing with light : very bright
brilliant jewels
2
a
: very impressive
a brilliant career
b
: very smart or clever
a brilliant student
a brilliant idea
brilliantly adverb

brilliant

2 of 2 noun
: a gem (as a diamond) cut so as to sparkle
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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