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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.
As quince cooks, its flesh turns from wan white to a rich, glistening garnet. Benjamin Kemper, Saveur, 26 Nov. 2025 The cat-eye effect and glistening decals create the illusion of frost, while the fiery tips add warmth. Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 24 Nov. 2025 The final shot, with Hall’s eyes glistening, and her face a terrain of conflicted emotion, has become the anchor of the film. Clayton Davis, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025 Earle was dressed to the nines, well, more like the tens — some foreshadowing there — for the occasion, donning a glistening white and silver gown with feather accents, along with long white gloves and a blinding choker. Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 12 Nov. 2025 Udo Kier is the perverted master of ceremonies in this three-ring circus of deviancy from director Paul Morrissey, which takes Frankenstein’s romantic necrophilia and distills it to its glistening, taboo essence. Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025 Delicate purple, white, or lavender-pink flowers are embedded among tiny, glistening leaves. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025 Ma’s description of enormous, glistening grocery stores could be explained as the musings of a person who longs for stability and plentitude, or of a naive character who thinks of America as a land of boundless riches. Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025 Guests can dine at the on-site Beacon Restaurant, stroll the nearby boardwalk, or unwind by the fire pits as the sun seemingly dips into the glistening lake. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glistening. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.

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