Brilliant vs. Great — What's the Difference?

Very bright and radiant.

Very good or satisfactory.

Exceptionally clever or talented.

Considerably above average.

Marked by unusual and impressive intellectual acuity.

Of large size or extent.

Outstandingly impressive.

Used to express approval.

Very good; excellent.

Remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness.

Full of light; shining.

Very large in size, extent, or intensity

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

Of a larger size than other, similar forms

Sharp and clear in tone

Large in quantity or number

Glorious; magnificent

Extensive in time or distance

Superb; wonderful

Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent

Having or showing unusual and impressive intelligence

Of outstanding significance or importance

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

Chief or principal

Shining brightly.

Superior in quality or character; noble

(of a colour) Both bright and saturated.

Powerful; influential

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

Eminent; distinguished

(British) Of surpassing excellence.

Very good; first-rate

(British) Magnificent or wonderful.

Very skillful

Highly intelligent.

Enthusiastic

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.

Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination

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

(Archaic) Pregnant.

Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.

Pl. greats or great One that is great

A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.

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

A similar division of other organs.

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

Very well

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

Used as an intensive with certain adjectives

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.

(augmentative) Large, senior high-ranking, intense, extreme, or exceptional

The smallest size of type used in England printing.

Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.

A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

Title referring to an important leader.

Of surpassing excellence;

Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.

Having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence;

(informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic.

Characterized by or attended with brilliance or grandeur;

Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.

Having striking color;

(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]

Full of light; shining intensely;

Pregnant; large with young; full of.

Clear and sharp and ringing;

Intimate; familiar.

Extreme or more than usual.

Of significant importance or consequence; important.

(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.

Impressive or striking.

Much in use; favoured.

(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.

Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.

(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.

Expression of gladness and content about something.

Sarcastic inversion thereof.

A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.

(music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.

(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.

(informal) Very well in a very satisfactory manner.

Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous; expanded; - opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance, length.

Large in number; numerous; as, a great company, multitude, series, etc.

Long continued; lengthened in duration; prolonged in time; as, a great while; a great interval.

Superior; admirable; commanding; - applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.

Endowed with extraordinary powers; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; strong; powerful; mighty; noble; as, a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, etc.

Holding a chief position; elevated: lofty: eminent; distinguished; foremost; principal; as, great men; the great seal; the great marshal, etc.

Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.

Pregnant; big (with young).

More than ordinary in degree; very considerable in degree; as, to use great caution; to be in great pain.

Older, younger, or more remote, by single generation; - often used before grand to indicate one degree more remote in the direct line of descent; as, great-grandfather (a grandfather's or a grandmother's father), great-grandson, etc.

The whole; the gross; as, a contract to build a ship by the great.

Relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind;

More than usual;

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation;

Of major significance or importance;

Remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect;

Very good;

Uppercase;

Marked by active interest and enthusiasm;

In an advanced stage of pregnancy;

"Brilliant" often carries a stronger implication of rarity and specialness, particularly in intellectual contexts.

Popular culture often uses "brilliant" to emphasize cleverness and innovation, whereas "great" is more broadly used to denote excellence or large scale.

Yes, "great" can describe high intelligence, though it is less specific to intellect than "brilliant."

In informal speech, both can be used to express strong approval, such as "That's brilliant!" or "That's great!"

Yes, "great" can be used formally, but its significance should be clear from the context.

A great leader shows effective governance and influence, while a brilliant leader might display exceptional strategic thinking or innovation.

While often associated with intellect, "brilliant" can also describe anything exceptionally good or impressive.

Achievements that involve high intellect or creativity, like a groundbreaking scientific discovery.

"Brilliant" is more commonly used in academic settings to describe exceptional intellect or insight.

Yes, objects like gems or brightly shining items are often described as brilliant.

"Brilliant" often conveys a sense of awe or admiration, particularly for intellectual feats, while "great" may evoke a sense of respect or satisfaction more generally.