as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
a glistening marble table top
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of glistening
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
All of whom were mesmerized by her glistening skin and deeply sensual eyes, which often require nothing but black mascara.
—Essence, 1 Apr. 2026
This time, my eyes slid to the fresh silver polish on her fingernails, her cascading perm thick but without any undergrowth, and those eyes darting from me to the cop, glistening as if on the verge of pouring.
—Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
The velvet number had glistening golden fringe on the skirt.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
Crackle of dry winter ferns underfoot, the wet and glistening fallen trunks melting into loam—a beautiful chaos; the oldest kind of order.
—Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026
The former fake hotel is now full of glistening bronze pipes, a retro futurist look that former Imagineer Joe Rohde, who led the design, has said takes influence from the high-tech aesthetic of architect Renzo Piano, who worked on France’s Pompidou Centre.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
And all of those figures will move together into a new glistening practice facility before training camp begins.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Directed by Jerry Morka, the video finds BigX and company rolling out old-school automobiles dipped in candy paint with glistening rims, staying true to the Texan tradition of always doing it big.
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Head outside tonight and drink in the sight of the Pleiades open star cluster glistening close to the red star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus, before the mesmerizing naked-eye jewel slips out of view with the changing of the seasons.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Nearly forty years ago, Bloodsport launched the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme and helped propel him as a bankable leading man known for his glistening muscles and martial arts prowess.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The glistening lanes of the westbound 10 Freeway after a big rig carrying syrup overturned in Fontana on Monday, March 16, 2026.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
In the Giotto bed skirt, folds don’t just ripple so much as elegantly undulate, glistening with the kind of delicate sheen that only sateen and silk can accomplish.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026
By the time the women are seated on velvet-upholstered chairs that rise behind them like thrones, with glistening silverware and a large bouquet of flowers at the center of the table, the tension has reached breaking point.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Adjective
My colleagues, meanwhile, used forceps to pick glistening scale worms and peanut worms from the rocks.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
All of whom were mesmerized by her glistening skin and deeply sensual eyes, which often require nothing but black mascara.
—Essence, 1 Apr. 2026
This time, my eyes slid to the fresh silver polish on her fingernails, her cascading perm thick but without any undergrowth, and those eyes darting from me to the cop, glistening as if on the verge of pouring.
—Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
The velvet number had glistening golden fringe on the skirt.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
Crackle of dry winter ferns underfoot, the wet and glistening fallen trunks melting into loam—a beautiful chaos; the oldest kind of order.
—Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026
The former fake hotel is now full of glistening bronze pipes, a retro futurist look that former Imagineer Joe Rohde, who led the design, has said takes influence from the high-tech aesthetic of architect Renzo Piano, who worked on France’s Pompidou Centre.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
And all of those figures will move together into a new glistening practice facility before training camp begins.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Directed by Jerry Morka, the video finds BigX and company rolling out old-school automobiles dipped in candy paint with glistening rims, staying true to the Texan tradition of always doing it big.
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
This rapid change in temperature creates condensation, which is why your lawn is often glistening with dew on spring and summer mornings.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Head outside tonight and drink in the sight of the Pleiades open star cluster glistening close to the red star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus, before the mesmerizing naked-eye jewel slips out of view with the changing of the seasons.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Nearly forty years ago, Bloodsport launched the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme and helped propel him as a bankable leading man known for his glistening muscles and martial arts prowess.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The glistening lanes of the westbound 10 Freeway after a big rig carrying syrup overturned in Fontana on Monday, March 16, 2026.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
In the Giotto bed skirt, folds don’t just ripple so much as elegantly undulate, glistening with the kind of delicate sheen that only sateen and silk can accomplish.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026
By the time the women are seated on velvet-upholstered chairs that rise behind them like thrones, with glistening silverware and a large bouquet of flowers at the center of the table, the tension has reached breaking point.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glistening
Adjective
-
Individual cottages with modern interiors are set up in mini neighborhoods and have fireplaces with polished concrete hearths, heated floors, and floor-to-ceiling glass bifold doors leading to landscaped gardens.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Think compression packing cubes that help tame chaos, comfy sneakers for full days of walking, a polished matching set that multitasks, and genius travel accessories that keep everything organized.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His beans are on the menus of many top Bay Area restaurants, and a gleaming flagship store that opened in downtown Napa last week could be seen as a culmination of his 25 years of influence.—
Tara Duggan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But the approach matters more than most people realize, and getting the timing, tools and technique right can mean the difference between gleaming glass and a frustrating mess of streaks and residue.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The live-action show is a rather loose adaptation of the original manga, presenting itself as a glossy prestige drama, a bit more serious than its source material.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In a small saucepan, combine the guava marmalade, pineapple juice, brown sugar if using, and a pinch of salt, and warm until smooth and glossy.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the gutter, the usual New Orleans blend of litter and live-oak leaves was topped by a shimmering layer of pink fish scales glinting in the sun.—
Daniel Brook,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The path down is picturesque, but peppered with black snakes glinting in the sun.—
Kristina Kasparian,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The days were spent in a sleek conference room, where guests gave talks.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In a warm-weather Cactus League game late in February, the sleeker, stronger Waldron flung the fastest knuckleball many Padres had seen.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mud volcanoes ooze liquified brown sediment and emit shimmering curtains of methane bubbles.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, heat 1/4 inch oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.—
Paul Stephen,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Apr. 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
-
Besides carnivorous snake-trees, majestic candlehawks, and various glittering quasi-insects, the Scythian biome includes a species called the basket-men, who look like a cross between great apes and praying mantises.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
From the dramatic open-air lobby, a series of pools cascades, domino-like, down to the glittering Sea of Cortez.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Glistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glistening. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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