Brilliant vs. Wonderful

Shining brightly.

Example: ‘the brilliant lights along the promenade’;

(of a colour) Both bright and saturated.

Example: ‘butterflies with brilliant blue wings’;

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

Of surpassing excellence.

Example: ‘The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant.’;

Magnificent or wonderful.

Highly intelligent.

Example: ‘She is a brilliant scientist.’;

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.

Example: ‘Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal mistakes than to perform brilliant exploits.’;

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.

Example: ‘This snuffbox - on the hinge see brilliants shine.’;

The smallest size of type used in England printing.

A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

of surpassing excellence;

Example: ‘a brilliant performance’; ‘a superb actor’;

having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence;

Example: ‘some men dislike brainy women’; ‘a brilliant mind’; ‘a brilliant solution to the problem’;

characterized by or attended with brilliance or grandeur;

Example: ‘the brilliant court life at Versailles’; ‘a glorious work of art’; ‘magnificent cathedrals’; ‘the splendid coronation ceremony’;

having striking color;

Example: ‘bright greens’; ‘brilliant tapestries’; ‘a bird with vivid plumage’;

full of light; shining intensely;

Example: ‘a brilliant star’; ‘brilliant chandeliers’;

clear and sharp and ringing;

Example: ‘the bright sound of the trumpet section’; ‘the brilliant sound of the trumpets’;

Tending to excite wonder; surprising, extraordinary.

Surprisingly excellent; very good or admirable, extremely impressive.

Example: ‘They served a wonderful six-course meal.’;

(dialect) Exceedingly, to a great extent.

Adapted to excite wonder or admiration; surprising; strange; astonishing.

extraordinarily good; used especially as intensifiers;

Example: ‘a fantastic trip to the Orient’; ‘the film was fantastic!’; ‘a howling success’; ‘a marvelous collection of rare books’; ‘had a rattling conversation about politics’; ‘a tremendous achievement’;

inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvellous

Example: ‘the climate was wonderful all the year round’; ‘they all think she's wonderful’;