Awesome vs. Brilliant — What's the Difference?

Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great admiration or fear.

Very bright and radiant.

Overpowering in the grandeur or enchantment.

Exceptionally clever or talented.

Extremely good or excellent.

Outstanding; impressive because of excellence.

Colloquial use to express enthusiasm about quality or experience.

Used to describe something very successful or effective.

Inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence or admiration.

Reflecting great intelligence.

Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe

Full of light; shining.

Inspiring awe

Relating to or being a hue that has a combination of high lightness and strong saturation.

Expressing awe

Sharp and clear in tone

(Slang) Remarkable; outstanding

Glorious; magnificent

(dated) Causing awe or terror; inspiring wonder or excitement.

Superb; wonderful

(colloquial) Excellent, exciting, remarkable.

Having or showing unusual and impressive intelligence

(slang) nodot=a: the quality, state, or essence of being awesome.

A precious gem, especially a diamond, finely cut in any of various forms with numerous facets.

Causing awe; appalling; awful; as, an awesome sight.

Shining brightly.

Expressive of awe or terror.

(of a colour) Both bright and saturated.

Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder;

(of a voice or sound) Having a sharp, clear tone

(British) Of surpassing excellence.

(British) Magnificent or wonderful.

Highly intelligent.

A finely cut gemstone, especially a diamond, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to maximize light return through the top (called "table") of the stone.

The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.

Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.

A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

Sparkling with luster; glittering; very bright; as, a brilliant star.

Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splendid; shining; as, brilliant talents.

Exceedingly intelligent, or of distinguished accomplishment in a field; - as, a brilliant chemist.

A diamond or other gem of the finest cut, formed into faces and facets, so as to reflect and refract the light, by which it is rendered more brilliant. It has at the middle, or top, a principal face, called the table, which is surrounded by a number of sloping facets forming a bizet; below, it has a small face or collet, parallel to the table, connected with the girdle by a pavilion of elongated facets. It is thus distinguished from the rose diamond, which is entirely covered with facets on the surface, and is flat below.

The smallest size of type used in England printing.

A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

Of surpassing excellence;

Having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence;

Characterized by or attended with brilliance or grandeur;

Having striking color;

Full of light; shining intensely;

Clear and sharp and ringing;

"Brilliant" implies that a person or their work is exceptionally clever, skillful, or marked by excellence and originality.

"Awesome" evokes a feeling of being overwhelmed by something's grandeur or power, whereas "brilliant" elicits admiration for intellect or artistic skill.

Yes, in informal contexts, "awesome" is often used to express general enthusiasm or approval, extending beyond its traditional meaning.

Achievements involving intellectual prowess, innovative solutions, or artistic mastery are often described as "brilliant."

Someone might prefer "brilliant" to highlight intellectual achievement or creative excellence, distinguishing it from the more broadly used "awesome."

While not typical, natural phenomena can be described as "brilliant" when they are particularly radiant or vivid, such as a brilliant sunset.

Something is considered "awesome" if it inspires awe or an overwhelming sense of admiration, often due to its grandeur or power.

"Awesome" is generally considered informal and might be better suited for casual conversations rather than formal writing.

While both are positive terms, they are not interchangeable as "awesome" relates more to scale and impact, and "brilliant" to intelligence and creativity.

Yes, a scientific theory that is exceptionally insightful, effective, or solves complex problems in a novel way can be described as "brilliant."

Describing an event as "awesome" can convey its impressive nature or the deep impact it has due to its magnitude or intensity.

Yes, the frequent colloquial use of "awesome" as a general term of approval may dilute its original meaning, which connotes grandeur and awe.

Cultural preferences might influence the frequency or context in which these words are used, with some cultures emphasizing awe-inspiring qualities and others intellectual or artistic achievements.

Artistic works that are innovative, display high skill, or offer profound insights are often called "brilliant."

Synonyms for "awesome" include "magnificent," "wonderful," and "imposing." For "brilliant," synonyms include "genius," "clever," and "exceptional."