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brilliant

brilliant

30 3.2
Very impressive and grand in appearance or style
  • adjective
  • /ˈbrɪljənt/
translation icon : magnífico
  • The sunset over the mountains was absolutely brilliant, with hues of orange and pink lighting up the sky.
  • beautiful and brilliant

My prayers and best wishes for a brilliant career on the bench.

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Examples

  • The museum is brilliant, well displayed, and a real tribute to the sacrifices by so many.

    Academic text (2009)
  • I wanted to appreciate the brilliant little box.

  • I mean, that show was a brilliant concept.

  • So one day, I had the brilliant idea of writing four books about four brothers in one family.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • And that the Mets game would be a brilliant way to start the new season.

  • A thin patch of cloud high above was already reflecting brilliant red highlights.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • What's brilliant about the composition is its spontaneity.

  • The prince's head came up, all mopes burned away in the glory of a brilliant smile.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Her brilliant dress sparkled under the lights, catching everyone's attention at the gala.

  • The artist's brilliant mural transformed the dull wall into a stunning visual masterpiece.

Synonyms

great
vsbrilliant
1.0

Important and famous because of high quality or influence

focuses on stunning visual style rather than overall importance
wonderful
vsbrilliant
1.0

Very good and likely to make you feel happy or amazed

focuses on impressive visual style rather than warm delight
amazing
vsbrilliant
1.0

Causing great surprise and admiration

is centered on graceful and splendid visual presentation
excellent
vsbrilliant
1.0

Very good and better than most similar things

speaks of broad magnificent style rather than narrow excellence
grand
vsbrilliant
918 3.0

Impressive and large in appearance or style

leans more toward elegance and splendid style than just size
terrific
vsbrilliant
815 3.3

Very strong and often causing great damage

emphasizes majestic appearance rather than emotional intensity
tremendous
vsbrilliant
794 3.0

Very large or impressive

centers on elegant appearance rather than sheer size or amount
gorgeous
vsbrilliant
692 2.0

Very beautiful to look at

emphasizes overall grand style more than mere beauty
fantastic
vsbrilliant
626 1.9

Very good and impressive, making you feel pleased

is about majestic visual style rather than general enjoyment
fabulous
vsbrilliant
605 2.7

Very good and impressive

uses a more formal tone to stress grandeur and splendour
magnificent
vsbrilliant
299 3.9

Very impressive and beautiful in appearance or style

is the common term for that same grand appearance
spectacular
vsbrilliant
265 3.5

Very impressive and exciting to look at

is about noble and stylish appearance rather than spectacle
outstanding
vsbrilliant
257 3.4

Much better than most others in skill or quality

is specifically about noble and stylish visual impressiveness
glorious
vsbrilliant
253 3.6

Very beautiful and impressive in a way that makes people admire it

is centered on visual style and formal splendour rather than praise
marvelous
vsbrilliant
  • US
251 1.8

Very good and surprising in a way that pleases people

focuses on majestic appearance rather than emotional wonder
stunning
vsbrilliant
210 3.7

Very beautiful and impressive to look at

covers general grandeur and impressive style beyond attraction
phenomenal
vsbrilliant
113 5.4

Very impressive and much better than normal

is more about refined impressive appearance than sheer remarkability
superb
vsbrilliant
111 3.5

Of very high quality and extremely good

focuses on impressive style and appearance rather than top rank
splendid
vsbrilliant
110 3.5

Very impressive and beautiful

is similar but more neutral about elegance
sublime
vsbrilliant
  • Literature
43 6.7

Extremely beautiful or great in a way that makes people feel wonder

is impressive in appearance without producing awe
dazzling
vsbrilliant
39 3.9

Very impressive and attractive in a way that gets attention

describes broad impressive style rather than bright intensity
stupendous
vsbrilliant
19 6.7

Very large or impressive in a way that amazes people

describes refined grand style more than overwhelming scale
bright
vsbrilliant
7 2.6

Very impressive and full of strong color or light

is about grand impressive style rather than simple visual shine
splendiferous
vsbrilliant
5 9.9

Very beautiful and impressive, like at a big party

is more sober and standard in tone
absolutely awesome
vsbrilliant
  • Informal
2 2.8

Very impressive and exciting

uses a more measured tone focused on grand visual style
simply awesome
vsbrilliant
  • Informal
1 4.1

Very impressive and making people feel amazed

leans more toward visual majesty and stylish splendour
splendorous
vsbrilliant
  • Literature
1 7.5

Very beautiful and impressive to look at

focuses more on general impressive style than beauty

Antonyms

866 1.0

Not pleasant to look at

683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

Compounds

brilliant pebble
  • Specialized
9.9

A small missile that uses a computer to find and destroy enemy missiles

How Impressive

stunning
210 3.7
brilliant
30 3.2
impressive
584 3.4
attractive
680 1.0
plain
208 1.0

Surface Forms

brilliant positive
brillianter comparative
brilliantest superlative

Etymology

Brilliant comes from the French word briller 'to shine', used for splendid lights and jewels, so a thing that 'shines' in this way became described as very impressive or magnificent.