glisten 1 of 2

verb

ˈgli-sᵊn How to pronounce glisten (audio)
Definition of glistennext
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light this seemingly dull opal really glistens in full light

Synonyms & Similar Words

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glisten

2 of 2

noun

as in gleam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb glisten contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glisten are flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

When would flash be a good substitute for glisten?

The words flash and glisten can be used in similar contexts, but flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When could gleam be used to replace glisten?

Although the words gleam and glisten have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

Where would glimmer be a reasonable alternative to glisten?

The words glimmer and glisten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

When might glint be a better fit than glisten?

While in some cases nearly identical to glisten, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When is it sensible to use glitter instead of glisten?

The meanings of glitter and glisten largely overlap; however, glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When can shimmer be used instead of glisten?

While the synonyms shimmer and glisten are close in meaning, shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

In what contexts can sparkle take the place of glisten?

The synonyms sparkle and glisten are sometimes interchangeable, but sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of glisten
Verb
So, too, there are the usual plateaus piled high with glistening cold shellfish. —John Mariani, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 As frost dusts the treetops and waterfalls glisten with icy edges, the trails transform into truly peaceful escapes. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
As the twinkle of bulbous holiday ornaments fade away, the gilded glisten of the 2024 Golden Globes arrives, and EW has some bold predictions for winners in the major categories that could be handed out during Sunday's ceremony. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024 Most lip oils tend to lose their glisten on me after about 20 minutes and either dry my lips out further or leave splotchy color behind. —Lindsey Metrus, Peoplemag, 30 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for glisten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glisten
  1. gleam
  2. glow
  3. shimmer
  4. glint
  5. shine
  6. glare
  7. sparkle
  8. glimmer
Verb
  • From gleaming marble countertops to pristine wood flooring, even the slightest imperfections can impact a property’s value.
    — Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
  • At the Museum of Clocks, also in Chengdu, textural red brickwork alludes more to the area’s humble past than a gleaming future.
    — Oscar Holland, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • The universe is setting you up for a major glow up.
    — Dossé-Via Trenou, refinery29.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • And many of them worked on their glow starting months in advance.
    — Justine Fisher, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of glow
Verb
  • McGrath captures color well, and so eyes shimmered with a pearly, iridescent lavender.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Romance, true love, fertility and children, as well as hobbies and creativity could all shimmer like gold.
    — Kyle Thomas, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Definition of shimmer
Noun
  • Gene Hackman played Superman's arch-villain, Lex Luthor, with a comic glint.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Think bold reds, glints of gold, and just the right amount of flair to take you from polite family dinners to full-on bar crawls.
    — Crystal Chen, Vogue, 24 Jan. 2025
Definition of glint
Verb
  • The week ahead will shine a light on both, with more tariffs supposedly set to kick in and fresh jobs data on the way.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2025
  • That paradox defines so much of the ongoing story: the more hype that circulates about lesser tokens, the more bitcoin’s steady fundamentals shine.
    — Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of shine
Noun
  • However, that didn’t stop her co-workers and peers from laying down the firm glare of judgment.
    — Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • That means Johnson’s responses on Wednesday will be under the dual glare of Congress and Trump’s Justice Department, though the courts have generally determined sanctuary laws to be constitutional.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of glare
Verb
  • Even Baby boomers are backing off alcohol a bit, with seltzers/sparkling up 13% and fruit juices edging up 1%, as beer drops 7%, spirits slide 12%, wine plummets 15%, and soft drinks fall off the cliff by 16%.
    — Louis Biscotti, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • What if this golden moment for Reddit is not a renaissance but a last hurrah—one final reminder of what could have been, before a tsunami of AI wipes out the places that once sparkled with humanity?
    — Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of sparkle
Noun
  • His win is a glimmer of hope for those who don’t live in mansions but just want to make movies.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Mar. 2025
  • No Other Land, about the destruction of a West Bank community, offers a glimmer of hope in the bond between an Israeli and a Palestinian.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of glimmer

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“Glisten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glisten. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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