glimmer 1 of 2

glimmer

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb glimmer contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glimmer are flash, gleam, glint, glisten, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

Where would flash be a reasonable alternative to glimmer?

In some situations, the words flash and glimmer are roughly equivalent. However, flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When could gleam be used to replace glimmer?

The words gleam and glimmer can be used in similar contexts, but gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When is it sensible to use glint instead of glimmer?

The synonyms glint and glimmer are sometimes interchangeable, but glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

In what contexts can glisten take the place of glimmer?

The meanings of glisten and glimmer largely overlap; however, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

When is glitter a more appropriate choice than glimmer?

While the synonyms glitter and glimmer are close in meaning, glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When would shimmer be a good substitute for glimmer?

Although the words shimmer and glimmer have much in common, shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

When can sparkle be used instead of glimmer?

The words sparkle and glimmer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 glimmer
Noun
After years of crippling shortages, housing inventory is finally growing across the U.S., offering a glimmer of hope to aspiring homebuyers pushed to the sidelines since the pandemic. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 Still, there are some glimmers of hope for broadcast television. Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Verb
What powers van den Heever’s performance is the gulf between the nastiness onstage and the glimmering warmth of her voice. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025 His first solo museum presentation in 2024, at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, included a glimmering installation of amber splayed across the floor. Sarah Quiñones Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for glimmer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glimmer
Noun
  • Scientists in Taiwan looking for a ninth planet in the solar system claim to have found hints of it in archive images of the night sky taken by long-dead infrared telescopes.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • More recently, the brand has ventured into makeup — infusing its bestsellers with hints of color and forging the way for the skinification of makeup.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • The prop flares could have their flicker and intensity controlled from a lighting desk.
    Daron James, IndieWire, 27 May 2025
  • Small summer blooms attract butterflies and luna moths, while late season berries are favored by robins, flickers, and grouse.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Grace Karin Zip-Front Midi Dress with Pockets A gleaming gold zipper down the front lends a dramatic flourish to this little black dress with a banded waist and cap sleeves.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 30 May 2025
  • The futuristic design features gleaming white concrete, glass and water in a complex of five buildings designed by famous Spanish architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela in 1998.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Its members will include lobbyists, tech industry bigwigs and a sprinkling of White House officials, such as David Sacks, who is Trump’s crypto czar.
    Eric Lipton, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • When the daily decided to take a walk back in time to celebrate 50 years of Women’s Fashion Industries on Aug. 15, 1950, a look at the Easter Parade and fashion trends of the day was included, noting that the parade had grown from a sprinkling of 400 people to over 4 million.
    Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Here, Gerdes created an airy, cohesive container with delicate, shimmering flowers of alyssum and ‘Glitz’ euphorbia, pops of pale purple ‘Starfish’ petunia blooms, soft mounds of velvety artemisia, and trailing silver tendrils of dichondra.
    Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2025
  • The shimmering elements of Fanning’s gown cascaded down the design of her dress.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • And yet, the poem’s haunting finale carried a shred of hope.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for about 3 1/2 hours until meat shreds easily.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 6 May 2025
Verb
  • The player bet $1.75, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen until a jackpot message appeared.
    Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2025
  • It's now known to flash in both radio waves and X-rays for a two-minute period every 44 minutes.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • Walls were observed with food splash and debris throughout the kitchen area, especially in hard to reach areas, such as behind and below equipment.
    Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2025
  • Vulcan’s most high-visibility splash in the pickleball world was their 2024 agreement with the UPA to become the official ball of both the PPA and MLP, a contract reportedly worth more than $2M annually and which instantly created a market for their VPro flight ball.
    Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Glimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glimmer. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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