brilliant

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈbrɪljənt/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

Positive brilliant

Comparative more brilliant

Superlative most brilliant

1. If something is brilliant, it gives off a lot of light.

   It was evening with the brilliant colors of sunset shining through the trees.

   The sun's light was so brilliant that I needed to close my eyes.

   The sky was a brilliant blue that day, and the air was cold.

   He noticed a brilliant star in the sky.

2. If something is brilliant, it is very good.

   Truly brilliant ideas can sound crazy at first.

   She wrote a book about her brilliant career in television.

3. If a person is brilliant, they are very intelligent.

   He was a brilliant teacher.

Synonyms

• (light) bright, intense
• (thinking) intelligent, smart, inspired, gifted
• (good) great, wonderful, excellent, successful

Antonyms

• (very bright) dark, dull
• (person) dull, dumb, stupid

Related words and phrases

• brilliance
• brilliancy
• brilliantly