Brilliant vs. Great: What's the Difference?
Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Published on November 6, 2023
Brilliant refers to intense brightness or exceptional clarity and intelligence, while Great denotes extensive magnitude, amount, or degree.
Key Differences
"Brilliant" often refers to something that shines brightly, illuminates with exceptional clarity, or exhibits intellectual prowess. It is frequently used to describe dazzling lights, sparkling gems, or sharp and incisive intellects. Conversely, "Great" is a broad adjective used to denote something extensive in amount, degree, or size, such as great distance, great happiness, or great power. The essence of brilliance usually entails a luminous glow or exceptional mental acuity, while greatness encompasses magnitude or superior quality.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
The term "brilliant" conveys a sense of radiance or extraordinary luminosity, often associated with light or color. It can describe a diamond's luminous sparkle or an idea's outstanding clarity and innovativeness. In comparison, "great" may indicate substantial magnitude or superior quality, expressing admiration for achievements, skills, or attributes. While brilliant leans more towards radiance and intellect, great implies volume, quality, and admiration, with a wide-ranging application.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
For instance, a brilliant mind is one that has exceptional intelligence and cognitive abilities, characterized by swift and sharp reasoning. Here, brilliance stands for the pinnacle of intellectual prowess. In contrast, a great person may be one who has impacted many lives positively, showing kindness, leadership, or moral virtue. Greatness, in this sense, is about influence, moral standing, and the depth of one's positive impact on others.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
A brilliant display, often imbued with vivid and radiant colors, attracts attention due to its intense luminosity and vibrancy. It represents a visually stunning spectacle of light and color. However, a great achievement is recognized for its substantial impact, significant effort, and outstanding results. It denotes accomplishments that are noteworthy for their scale and impact, reflecting the extensive reach of greatness.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
In summary, "brilliant" predominantly emphasizes luminosity, intellectual sharpness, and clarity, often signifying a standout quality in terms of brightness or intellect. "Great," on the other hand, is versatile, representing high degree, large amount, or superior quality in various contexts, highlighting magnitude, excellence, or impact.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 06, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Exceptional clarity or intelligence.
Extensive magnitude or superior quality.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Application
More specific, relating to luminosity or sharpness.
More general, encompassing various qualities.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Degree of Praise
High, often in intellect or appearance.
High, can refer to size, quality, amount, etc.
Sara Rehman
Nov 06, 2023
Associated Contexts
Typically, light, color, and intellect.
Virtually any context from size to moral virtue.
Janet White
Nov 06, 2023
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Brilliant and Great Definitions
Brilliant
Brilliant refers to shining brightly with a lot of light.
The brilliant sun made it hard to see.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Great refers to something of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above average.
He has a great understanding of the subject.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Brilliant can describe something dazzling or striking.
The fireworks created a brilliant display in the sky.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Great can denote someone of ability, quality, or eminence considerably above average.
Alexander the Great was a renowned ruler.
Harlon Moss
Sep 29, 2023
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Great
Great is used to emphasize the degree of something.
There is a great need for change.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Relating to or being a hue that has a combination of high lightness and strong saturation.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Great signifies something much higher than usual in degree or intensity.
There was a great variety of options.
Janet White
Sep 29, 2023
Great
Very large in size, extent, or intensity
A great pile of rubble.
A great storm.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Having or showing unusual and impressive intelligence
A brilliant mind.
A brilliant solution to the problem.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
A precious gem, especially a diamond, finely cut in any of various forms with numerous facets.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent
A great crisis.
Great anticipation.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
(of a colour) Both bright and saturated.
Butterflies with brilliant blue wings
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
(British) Of surpassing excellence.
The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Superior in quality or character; noble
A great man who dedicated himself to helping others.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
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.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination
A great-granddaughter.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Sparkling with luster; glittering; very bright; as, a brilliant star.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splendid; shining; as, brilliant talents.
Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal mistakes than to perform brilliant exploits.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Pl. greats or great One that is great
A composer considered among the greats.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Exceedingly intelligent, or of distinguished accomplishment in a field; - as, a brilliant chemist.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
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.
This snuffbox - on the hinge see brilliants shine.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
(augmentative) Large, senior high-ranking, intense, extreme, or exceptional
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence;
Some men dislike brainy women
A brilliant mind
A brilliant solution to the problem
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.
A great storm is approaching our shores.
A great assembly
A great wait
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Characterized by or attended with brilliance or grandeur;
The brilliant court life at Versailles
A glorious work of art
Magnificent cathedrals
The splendid coronation ceremony
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Having striking color;
Bright greens
Brilliant tapestries
A bird with vivid plumage
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.
The great auk
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Full of light; shining intensely;
A brilliant star
Brilliant chandeliers
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
(informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic.
Dinner was great.
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Clear and sharp and ringing;
The bright sound of the trumpet section
The brilliant sound of the trumpets
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.
A dirty great smack in the face
Great Scott!
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Brilliant means having or showing exceptional intelligence.
She is brilliant in mathematics.
Harlon Moss
Sep 29, 2023
Great
(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]
Great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather
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Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Brilliant also refers to exceptional clarity of color.
The gemstone had a brilliant blue hue.
Harlon Moss
Sep 29, 2023
Brilliant
Brilliant denotes outstanding or extraordinary.
That was a brilliant performance!
Aimie Carlson
Sep 29, 2023
Great
(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.
A great deed
A great nature
A great history
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Much in use; favoured.
Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.
A great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.
What a great buffoon!
He's not a great one for reading.
A great walker
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.
A great carpenter
You are great at singing.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Expression of gladness and content about something.
Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Sarcastic inversion thereof.
Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.
Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
(music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.
My three-greats grandmother.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
(informal) Very well in a very satisfactory manner.
Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous; expanded; - opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance, length.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Large in number; numerous; as, a great company, multitude, series, etc.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Long continued; lengthened in duration; prolonged in time; as, a great while; a great interval.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Superior; admirable; commanding; - applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Endowed with extraordinary powers; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; strong; powerful; mighty; noble; as, a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, etc.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Holding a chief position; elevated: lofty: eminent; distinguished; foremost; principal; as, great men; the great seal; the great marshal, etc.
He doth object I am too great of birth.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
More than ordinary in degree; very considerable in degree; as, to use great caution; to be in great pain.
We have allGreat cause to give great thanks.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
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.
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind;
A great juicy steak
A great multitude
The great auk
A great old oak
A great ocean liner
A great delay
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation;
Our distinguished professor
An eminent scholar
A great statesman
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Of major significance or importance;
A great work of art
Einstein was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect;
A great crisis
Had a great stake in the outcome
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Very good;
He did a bully job
A neat sports car
Had a great time at the party
You look simply smashing
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Uppercase;
Capital A
Great A
Many medieval manuscripts are in majuscule script
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
Marked by active interest and enthusiasm;
An avid sports fan
A great walker
An eager beaver
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Sep 29, 2023
Great
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
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Sep 29, 2023
FAQs
Does brilliant only refer to intelligence?
No, brilliant can also refer to intense brightness, exceptional clarity, and outstanding quality.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Can great describe magnitude or size?
Yes, great is often used to denote extensive magnitude, amount, or degree.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Can brilliant describe a spectacle of light and color?
Yes, brilliant often describes visually striking displays of light and color.
Harlon Moss
Nov 06, 2023
Can an idea be brilliant?
Yes, ideas can be brilliant if they show exceptional clarity or inventiveness.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 06, 2023
Is brilliant used to describe color?
Yes, brilliant can refer to exceptional clarity and vividness of color.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Can great be used to describe average intensity or degree?
No, great typically denotes a high level of intensity or degree.
Sara Rehman
Nov 06, 2023
Does brilliant have a connotation of sharpness?
Yes, brilliant often connotes sharpness, especially in intellectual contexts.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 06, 2023
Can great be used to describe intelligence?
Yes, great can be used to describe above-average intelligence, among other things.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Does a brilliant person always have high intellectual abilities?
Typically, but brilliant can also describe other standout qualities.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Can great represent moral virtue?
Yes, great can denote superior moral virtue and nobility.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Is great synonymous with large?
It can be, as great often denotes considerable size or amount.
Sara Rehman
Nov 06, 2023
Can a brilliant display be unnoticeable?
Typically no, as brilliant often means dazzling or striking.
Harlon Moss
Nov 06, 2023
Can something be brilliant without shining brightly?
Yes, brilliant can also refer to exceptional quality or intelligence, not just bright shining.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Can something be great without being above average in quality?
Typically, great implies a level of quality, ability, or eminence considerably above average.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
Is greatness measurable?
It can be subjective, depending on the context, but some aspects of greatness may be measurable.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
