as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface
polished the metal until it had an even sheen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to shimmer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sheen
Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
Its deep purple-black, ruffled leaves add contrast and an almost opalescent sheen.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 May 2023
Professor:Oily sheen on East Palestine creek behaving like vinyl chloride So far, Ohio EPA says its tests have not detected vinyl chloride in waterways.
—Anna Staver, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sheen
Noun
Men have been doing it for decades, flitting between the low-brow and the high-brow without losing any of their Serious Actor sheen in the process.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
Its deep purple-black, ruffled leaves add contrast and an almost opalescent sheen.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
The latter was already buffed to a brilliant R&B sheen thanks to production and songwriting contributions from Babyface, the Rascals, and BLK.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 May 2023
Professor:Oily sheen on East Palestine creek behaving like vinyl chloride So far, Ohio EPA says its tests have not detected vinyl chloride in waterways.
—Anna Staver, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sheen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheen
Noun
-
When the action rises in intensity, this gleam gathers quickly to a fiery glow of tragic power.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Your 4th House of Traditions gleams under today’s Full Moon, so private needs are potentially straining against public duties.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
All the while, the river shimmers in the sun, blue then green, then melancholy and moody as cloud shadows sweep overhead.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Black shimmering sequins featured around the neckline and at the cuffs of the sleeves and at the bottom of the top, as well.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hop in a kayak to catch a glimpse of the enchanting, blue-green glow of the Bioluminescent Bay (which claims to have the brightest bioluminescence in the world), sunbathe on Vieques’s pristine beaches, or marvel at the wild horses that roam around the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge.—
Brittany Chang,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Best Clothing Deals Airport outfits just got a glow-up.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The view from the top of the castle looks down upon a glittering bay below, filled with mega-yachts and cruise ships.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Sophie attends the Bridgertons’ lavish bash in secret, donning a glittering silver gown and a matching face mask that conceals her true identity as a housemaid from the rest of the ton.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Williams showed up first, his white Giorgio Armani tuxedo accented by a glint of shining diamonds at the neck.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
12 Jan. 2026
-
These are shaken up by Martina’s brother, Raphael Caruso, who glides smoothly between guests with a glint in his eye.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Ahead, discover our top picks for organizers, including a freestanding unit that can double as a washing machine hutch and a glass-shelf piece that glistens in chrome.—
Kristi Kellogg,
Architectural Digest,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Under the roof — with the glare gone, the temperature easing across the third and fourth sets and the radiated heat from the court plummeting — the momentum swung.—
John Pye,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Originally a bright photography studio with skylights, the room was transformed into a low-light space to eliminate glare on the digital screens and Wacom tablets used for ZBrush sculpting.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The sight of a glimmering ball lowering down from the dark skies would have seemed otherworldly.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
31 Dec. 2025
-
The other, the glimmering gem that was the definition for college football greatness.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sheen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheen. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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