brilliant glare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brilliant glare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very bright or intense light that is striking or dazzling. Example: "The brilliant glare of the sun reflected off the water, making it difficult to see."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Maybe it was the brilliant glare of the chandeliers that blinded his vision.

The New Yorker

The average 24-year-old might indeed be dazzled on first arriving in the brilliant glare of the big city, but not so Swift.

Independent

Ocean wind blew through our curtains, flowers in our garden grew sideways, and in the brilliant glare of the midday sea, the distant spume of whales caught the sunlight.

The Guardian - Travel

With the brilliant glare of nine engines spewing out 1 million pounds of thrust, the rocket, a Falcon 9 built by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation of Hawthorne, Calif., or SpaceX, rose slowly off the launching pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station here, then arced upward into the night sky.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Up and down the waterfront, there are more cafes and restaurants, their patrons also swathed in sunglasses against the brilliant southern glare and similarly attired, tanned midriffs revealing figures still fit from a summer of swimming and surfing.

The New York Times - Magazine

She had her underwear pulled down around her knees, and its brilliant lacy pinkness was a glaring insult to the honest, flyspecked gray and manure-brown of the barn.

The New Yorker

At the end of the movie, I declared, "Well, that was brilliant" and then all just glared at me like I was much more crazy than Wild.

Huffington Post

Meserve saw to that, for a brilliant sun had come up, its glare exposing the bizarre party as clearly as it did the landscape.

The New Yorker

Carey's 1837 London, where most of the novel is set, is a brilliant Dickens pastiche, all 'sulphurous Corruption', glare and crowd and filth and dark corners, its buildings bursting with a violent life of their own.

The Guardian - Books

Jupiter remains hidden in the Sun's glare, but Venus is brilliant in the evening twilight, albeit only 6° high in the W at sunset at present, and no higher in the SW by month's end.

The Guardian

You could be on the summit of Mont Blanc - everywhere you look there are snow-draped crags and mountains, the sun glares out of a brilliant blue sky and the air you breathe is peppermint fresh.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene, use "brilliant glare" to emphasize not just brightness, but also the uncomfortable or overwhelming nature of the light. This works well when the light is reflected off a surface like water or metal.

Common error

Avoid using "brilliant glare" to describe gentle or pleasing light. The term suggests an intensity that can be harsh or even painful. Consider using words like "glow", "shine", or "radiance" for more positive connotations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brilliant glare" functions primarily as a descriptive noun phrase. As supported by Ludwig AI, it serves to depict a particular quality of light, combining an adjective ("brilliant") with a noun ("glare") to create a vivid image.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "brilliant glare" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes an intensely bright and often uncomfortable light. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's typically found in descriptive contexts, aiming to evoke a sensory experience. While its register is generally neutral, its most frequent usage is within news and media sources. If you're seeking alternative ways to express this concept, consider options like "dazzling light" or "intense brightness". Remember to use "brilliant glare" to describe a specific type of light - one that's not only bright but also harsh or overwhelming.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense brightness

Replaces both the adjective and the noun, focusing on the strength of the light.

dazzling radiance

Uses synonyms for both words to convey a similar meaning with a slightly more poetic tone.

blinding light

Emphasizes the potential negative effect of the intense light, suggesting it impairs vision.

vivid illumination

Focuses on the clarity and intensity of the light's effect.

radiant light

Drops the intensifier, focusing solely on the emission of light.

bright luminosity

Uses a more scientific term for brightness.

intense luminosity

Combines intensity with a scientific term for brightness.

fierce beam

Suggests a focused and powerful source of light.

stunning brightness

Highlights the impressive visual impact of the bright light.

piercing light

Implies that the light is penetrating and sharp.

FAQs

How can I use "brilliant glare" in a sentence?

You can use "brilliant glare" to describe intensely bright and often uncomfortable light, such as "The "brilliant glare" of the sun made it difficult to see the road".

What's a good synonym for "brilliant glare"?

Alternatives to "brilliant glare" include "dazzling light", "intense brightness", or "blinding light", each carrying slightly different connotations regarding intensity and visual impact.

Is "brilliant glare" a formal or informal expression?

"Brilliant glare" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in descriptive writing.

What kind of light does "brilliant glare" describe?

"Brilliant glare" typically describes light that is both intensely bright and somewhat harsh or uncomfortable, often associated with reflected light or very strong direct light sources.