as in glows
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
the door opened a crack and let in a gleam of light from the hallway
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in glints
to shoot forth bursts of light
fine china and stemware gleaming in the candlelight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of gleams
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
His new wife, Nina (Brittany Snow), an art dealer who is also Madison’s former assistant, gleams with insecurity.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Today, while the lobby of the old movie palace gleams in the afternoon sun, no light gets in through the roof.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Nov. 2025
My reflection is tall, perhaps rather like an arrow, my blond hair gleams.
—Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Below, the Winged Victory gleams in the garden.
—Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.
—Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025
The mother-and-daughter duo revamped almost every corner of the 7,000-square-foot home, including its exterior, which now gleams with white siding and cobalt-blue shutters.
—Paola Singer, Architectural Digest, 13 Nov. 2025
The Airstream gleams absurdly against the ocherous land below.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Patches of unintelligibility are nothing new in Pynchon, but usually a coherent world view gleams upward from the murk.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Nothing gleams as beautifully as a white kitchen.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
His new wife, Nina (Brittany Snow), an art dealer who is also Madison’s former assistant, gleams with insecurity.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Today, while the lobby of the old movie palace gleams in the afternoon sun, no light gets in through the roof.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Nov. 2025
My reflection is tall, perhaps rather like an arrow, my blond hair gleams.
—Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Below, the Winged Victory gleams in the garden.
—Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.
—Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025
The mother-and-daughter duo revamped almost every corner of the 7,000-square-foot home, including its exterior, which now gleams with white siding and cobalt-blue shutters.
—Paola Singer, Architectural Digest, 13 Nov. 2025
The Airstream gleams absurdly against the ocherous land below.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Patches of unintelligibility are nothing new in Pynchon, but usually a coherent world view gleams upward from the murk.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Nothing gleams as beautifully as a white kitchen.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleams
Noun
-
Auroras during minor storms often appear as faint glows or subtle movement before intensifying.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Kind of two orange glows, like someone had lit two tiny matches out in space.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Soft breezes ripple through the sea grapes, and sunlight glints off the aquamarine shallows that surround Bahia Honda State Park.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Since it was released at the end of 2023, the hulking, angular vehicle has been subject to jokes about its appearance and glares from people who disagree with CEO Elon Musk’s politics.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Saab recommends combining overhead lighting with wall sconces and table lamps to lend more flexibility while also avoiding harsh glares.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
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
-
For the celebratory event, Gomez and nail artist Tom Bachik chose an on-theme bronze nail polish combo that shimmers like the surface of the sun.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Riders are asked to wear a helmet, have bike lights, call out cars to fellow riders, stay in one lane and obey the rules of the road.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
When his playing days ended, the bright lights of Los Angeles came calling, and the rest is history.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With its prime Hudson River setting, the restaurant shines in every season – from fireside dining in winter to a vibrant garden and greenhouse in spring and summer, capped off by fall’s spectacular foliage.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
One area where the Treasure truly shines is in its onboard cocktail lounges and bars.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Outside of those windows is Lake Michigan, which glistens in the sun during the day and glows under the moon at night.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
30 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
Verb
-
In his arms, a baby Jesus with mysteriously mature eye bags flashes a peace sign.—
Hannah Towey,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Jessica then zooms in on her husband, who flashes her a toothy smile.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gleams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleams. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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