as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
a glistening marble table top
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in gleaming
to shoot forth bursts of light
this seemingly dull opal really glistens in full light
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of glistening
Harriet Compston, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Before the 1945 season, there was a cartoon of him in the paper—Big Number 7 of the Rams—and there was his face, clean and glistening, under wavy hair and wearing a perfect smile.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Luckily, there is a way to slow this process and keep your shower glistening for longer.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
The 27-foot four-sleeper Frontier Edition isn't merely a glistening, freshly polished design.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
Few things bring the world together quite like the Winter Olympics, where athletic dreams are realized against the backdrop of snowy mountains and glistening ice rinks.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 6 Feb. 2026
With glistening red berries and evergreen foliage, hollies are an indispensable part of the Southern landscape.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
Located in Jackson Hole, this serene landscape is home to glistening lakes, jagged terrain, and beautiful moose, mule deer, bison, and elk.
—Giovanna Caravetta, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
The restaurant is set in a historic, 1850s-era building, with an intimate but lively dining room decked with glistening chandeliers and warm candlelight flickering on cream brick walls.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Harriet Compston, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
While beauty trends are unfolding on the runway, they’re also being set by the glistening celebs on the front row.
—Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
It is set in a spectacular environment, with glistening steel tracks rising up against a backdrop of cliffs soaring out of the desert.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026
After the waves wash ashore and leave nothing but a blank canvas of sand glistening under the moonlight.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
In the lobby proudly stands an 18-foot tree glistening with 5,100 lights.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 20 Dec. 2025
Social-media users can’t get enough of Olive Jean’s reaction to the Christmas tree glistening in her forever home.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Correcting cyberpunk’s fraught history with Asian cities Cyberpunk stories are often set in neon-glistening cities with futuristic technology.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The bread was chewy and crispy at once, glistening with butter.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Bag a table outside to fully soak up the glistening ocean panorama, interrupted only by the occasional strutting peacock.
—Harriet Compston, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Before the 1945 season, there was a cartoon of him in the paper—Big Number 7 of the Rams—and there was his face, clean and glistening, under wavy hair and wearing a perfect smile.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Luckily, there is a way to slow this process and keep your shower glistening for longer.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
The 27-foot four-sleeper Frontier Edition isn't merely a glistening, freshly polished design.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
Few things bring the world together quite like the Winter Olympics, where athletic dreams are realized against the backdrop of snowy mountains and glistening ice rinks.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 6 Feb. 2026
With glistening red berries and evergreen foliage, hollies are an indispensable part of the Southern landscape.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
Located in Jackson Hole, this serene landscape is home to glistening lakes, jagged terrain, and beautiful moose, mule deer, bison, and elk.
—Giovanna Caravetta, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
The restaurant is set in a historic, 1850s-era building, with an intimate but lively dining room decked with glistening chandeliers and warm candlelight flickering on cream brick walls.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Surrounded by a never-ending patchwork of tea plantations, with Castlereagh Reservoir glistening in the distance, this beautiful bungalow is a picture of colonial elegance.
—Harriet Compston, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
While beauty trends are unfolding on the runway, they’re also being set by the glistening celebs on the front row.
—Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
It is set in a spectacular environment, with glistening steel tracks rising up against a backdrop of cliffs soaring out of the desert.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026
After the waves wash ashore and leave nothing but a blank canvas of sand glistening under the moonlight.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
In the lobby proudly stands an 18-foot tree glistening with 5,100 lights.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 20 Dec. 2025
Social-media users can’t get enough of Olive Jean’s reaction to the Christmas tree glistening in her forever home.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Correcting cyberpunk’s fraught history with Asian cities Cyberpunk stories are often set in neon-glistening cities with futuristic technology.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The bread was chewy and crispy at once, glistening with butter.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glistening
Adjective
-
Designed to fall just above the ankle, the wide-leg pair looks great with dainty flats and polished loafers.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
15 Feb. 2026
-
But what looks convincing in a quick DIY video can feel far less polished in real life—especially in bright, everyday spaces where imperfections are hard to hide.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And a gleaming smile that is as inviting as her singalongs.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
After years of struggling to find white-collar tenants for a gleaming office high-rise on the edge of downtown, developer Garrett Lee just began converting its office space into close to 700 apartments.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Holly is low maintenance, fast growing and has sharp, dark, glossy leaves with red berries.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
As for glam, Berry’s makeup was clean and serene, with bold brows, smokey eyes and a slightly glossy lip.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Something always seems to be lurking in the periphery, glinting off the edges of mirrors, flickering across those black wings offstage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
At first glance, Glass Mountain looks out of place—an irregular, pale, 15-foot mound glinting in the sunlight, as if someone dumped a pile of shiny shards in the middle of the desert.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Think stylish airport outfits, sleek carry-ons, smart tech, and practical travel accessories all seriously marked down for the holiday weekend.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
-
This sleek, inventive shoulder bag is well under $100 but looks way pricier.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ciara's gown, courtesy of Valdrin Sahiti, featured a shimmering silver skirt with a peek-a-boo black lace bustier top.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The mahogany music room stays true with a grand piano, now covered wall-to-wall in shimmering gold wallpaper that glows at night.—
Keith Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Pop a satin version on top of your usual night-out curls to make the 'do feel glamorous.—
Jasmine Washington,
Seventeen,
18 Jan. 2023
-
From satin pillowcases to a hydrating moisturizer, all of these products are on sale for less than $25.—
Isabel Garcia,
Peoplemag,
13 Jan. 2023
Verb
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There’s no denying the beauty of a white diamond—its glittering surface and icy tone is a classic choice that’s withstood the test of time.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Expect glittering and ultra glamorous gowns via Balmain, Versace, and vintage Galliano for red carpets with husband George, floaty and floral sets for summering in Lake Como, an always impeccable blowout.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Glistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glistening. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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