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
In the past year, there was a little glimmer of recovery: Earnings were up about 22% on a 2.7% revenue increase. John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 Stack doesn’t yet know she has been turned into a vampire, though the signs are all there — her eyes glow, her teeth glimmer, slobber pools at the corners of her mouth. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 June 2025
Verb
The glimmering fish got closer, though, and eventually showed its colors. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2025 During the hike, glimmering alpine lakes beckon hikers to cool off with a brisk dip. Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for glimmer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glimmer
Noun
  • Blending sweet, lemony, and earthy aromas with a hint of vanilla, this flavorful option is a great choice to share with a friend at the end of a night out.
    Emily Earlenbaugh, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Ambivalence means a look of cool, ironic detachment which would doubtless work very well in that away strip; lime green with a hint of no f***s given.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The film’s visuals flicker between NASA offices, quiet domestic spaces, and the wide, cinematic skies above.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Reflecting on that summer of big change for his boyhood club reveals a rare flicker of vulnerability in Hinshelwood.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • By scaling personalization in unprecedented ways, tele-sales companies can stop frustrating the masses and instead seek out that gleaming needle in the haystack.
    Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • In the gleaming chrome and fresh paint of each vehicle at their events, there is a story of persistence, investment, and pride.
    Melissa Noel, Essence, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • As reported, the brand won’t stage a runway show until March 2026, with the September presentation intended more as a reminder of Gucci’s foundations, to be accompanied by a sprinkling of see now, buy now products in stores.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2025
  • There’s something about the 1960s cultural aesthetics and hyper-realism to the sci-fi and action sequences that reminds me of the movie The Right Stuff crossed with a heavy dash of Interstellar and an aesthetic sprinkling of the streaming series Fallout.
    Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps because the testing period doesn’t begin until 2026, the room shimmered with the optimism of a hundred as yet undisproved hypotheses.
    Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
  • The flavors are distinct and interesting, sometimes with a citrus snap, other times shimmering with mild heat.
    Constance Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Lamb noodle soup at Chen’s Noodle House The shreds of lamb bring a gentle gaminess to the surprisingly subtle broth that George Chen packs with wide, floppy, hand-cut noodles at his tiny restaurant.
    Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • To prevent the shreds from clumping, anti-caking agents like cellulose (a plant fiber made from wood pulp) and potato starch are often added, which can steal moisture from the cheese, affecting its texture.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • This process takes up to two weeks, and once the bat traffic has stopped, all entry points are permanently closed with caulk, hardware cloth, or flashing, depending on the material and the point of entry.
    Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The player bet $12.50, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen until a jackpot message appeared.
    Helena Wegner, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Making that kind of a splash move would indicate that Houston would prefer to keep Durant around long-term.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Much like a regular playground, there are no staff supervising the splash park, according to Wooten.
    Gillian Stawiszynski, The Enquirer, 9 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Glimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glimmer. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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