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brilliance
[ bril-yuhns ]
noun
- great brightness; luster:
the brilliance of a fine diamond.
Synonyms: refulgence, effulgence, radiance
Antonyms: dullness
- excellence or distinction; conspicuous talent, mental ability, etc.
Synonyms: illustriousness, genius, preeminence
Antonyms: dullness
- splendor, elegance, or magnificence:
the brilliance of the court of Louis XIV.
- Optics. that luminance of a body consisting of its saturation and brightness.
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Other Words From
- over·brilliance noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of brilliance1
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Example Sentences
Vincent Van Gogh fell in love with the brilliance of Provence.
The result was as much about the Bears’ issues as about any brilliance by the Saints.
Ohio State had finally taken a lead over Clemson, thanks in large part to the brilliance of Fields, its leader and one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.
Decades later, the brilliance of “Calvin and Hobbes” refuses to dim.
While 2020 might have taken the sheen off of the brilliance of the city’s restaurant scene, 2021 looks to bring back our dining scene stronger than ever.
None of them came close to the brilliance of what Beyoncé had accomplished.
The idea that January 1st initiates a period of new beginning is not a flash of Hallmark brilliance.
The brilliance of this scene, and this season, is that there are no good guys and bad guys.
As TechCrunch pointed out, the brilliance in its bare bones appeal could reach a worth of one billion dollars.
But this soft and greedy subversive organelle is no match for the brilliance of our scientists!
The sand hung in fog-like clouds shrouding the sun, dimming the usual brilliance.
The brilliance of his wife, and her most fascinating colloquial powers, also reflected much luster upon his name.
Her husband became more illustrious through that brilliance she was ever anxious to reflect upon him.
There were countries and seas on a vari-colored map, and one pin-point of brilliance that marked his ever-changing position.
They were still a little perturbed by the brilliance and distraction, and it was as an alien that she moved among them still.
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More About Brilliance
What does brilliance mean?
Brilliance commonly refers to the quality of extreme intelligence. People considered geniuses are often said to possess or display brilliance.
Brilliance is a noun form of the adjective brilliant, which commonly means extremely intelligent but can also mean outstanding, exceptional, or magnificent, as in a brilliant performance.
These senses of brilliant are based on its more general meaning—shining brightly or sparkling. Bright sunshine can be described as brilliant in this way. A very sparkly gem such as a diamond could also be described as brilliant. Brilliance can be used in these contexts to refer to the brightness or sparkliness of such things.
Brilliant can also be used to mean vivid or vibrant. This sense of the word is especially used to describe colors and sounds that stand out due to being especially strong and clear. Brilliance refers to the quality of such things.
Example: I cannot overstate the brilliance of the performance—it was magnificent in every way.
Where does brilliance come from?
The first records of the word brilliance come from the mid-1700s. It’s a noun form of the adjective brilliant, which comes from the French brillant, meaning “shining,” from the French verb briller, “to shine.”
Brilliant was originally used as a way to describe things that literally shine or sparkle, such as the sun or a diamond. Eventually, it started to be used to describe people whose intellectual brilliance shines like the sun or a diamond.
Brilliant cut diamonds are those that are cut in a way that’s intended to maximize their brilliance—a large number of facets are added in order to better catch the light and reflect it back.
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What are some other forms related to brilliance?
- brilliant (adjective)
What are some synonyms for brilliance?
What are some words that share a root or word element with brilliance?
What are some words that often get used in discussing brilliance?
How is brilliance used in real life?
Brilliance is usually used in a positive way. It’s especially used in the context of very smart people and things that shine.
To increase the productivity of your team, lead by example, and allow others to step into their brilliance by empowering them.
— Neen James (@neenjames) August 12, 2014
Tiffany designers and craftspeople obsessively consider angles, proportion and symmetry to ensure a diamond’s brilliance changes the very energy of the room—regardless of its placement in a setting. Discover more: https://t.co/EJXwfd5J88 #TiffanyAndCo pic.twitter.com/g1RIUz4BwF
— Tiffany & Co. (@TiffanyAndCo) January 12, 2020
I can't wait to see #Logan again! The brilliance of the film is that it haunts you even after it ends. So much going on!
— Joshua Gannon (@blueyedguy86) March 11, 2017
Try using brilliance!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of brilliance?
A. luster
B. brightness
C. gloom
D. luminance
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