glistening

adjective

glis·​ten·​ing ˈgli-sᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce glistening (audio)
Synonyms of glisteningnext
: shining with reflected light
a damp, glistening surface
… a wonderland of glistening, shallow lakes of rainwater …Joseph Judge
The boatman was a tiny man with glistening brown skin and an almost circular mouth.Bruce Chatwin
… contrasting dark surfaces with glistening decorative details.Architectural Digest
Monroe County will always be unique because it is a collection of little tropical islands sprinkled across the glistening waters off the southern tip of the peninsula.George Laycock
glisteningly adverb
The cup across from her was icily clean, glisteningly empty. Sinclair Lewis

Examples of glistening in a Sentence

a glistening marble table top
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Her floor-length skirt, which showed off a glimpse of her towering cream platform sandals, was covered in the same glistening embellishments as well as fringe tiers. Lara Walsh, InStyle, 26 May 2026 His uniform and scalp were lined with glistening rivulets of oil, water, soot and sweat. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026 The signature fried chicken wings arrive crisp and glistening, accompanied by sauces applied with a brush, a nod to traditional craft. Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 An employee popped open a smoker door and showed a glistening stack of rotating meat. Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026 In the summer, its population swells as Italians flock here seeking sun and the chance to swim in the glistening azure sea and soak in the thermal hot springs. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026 Marcloid may often employ the sonic language of misery and darkness, but her glistening synths, rubbery rhythms, and radioactive colors transform a raging storm into an expression of radiant, high-definition joy. Reed Jackson, SPIN, 8 May 2026 The entry foyer, with its vaulted ceiling and glistening floor, is welcoming and impressive. James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026 There are soaring layers of harmony vocals, a glistening 12-string-guitar part, driving drum fills that speed the song forward. Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glistening was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Glistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glistening. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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