glimmer 1 of 2

glimmer

2 of 2

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
At that time, the nation’s economy was struggling and the men’s soccer team was one of the few things that offered any glimmer of hope. Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 June 2025 There was a glimmer of hope in 2023 when Chetrit teamed up with hoteliers Ian Schrager and Ed Scheetz to try to get the project back on track and restructure the loans, but that didn’t pan out. Kim Velsey, Curbed, 2 June 2025
Verb
The usual dull gray-brown of the seafloor was capped by tendrils of inky rock that glimmered with an abundance of glass — the result of rapid quenching when lava hits chilly water. Maya Wei-Haas, New York Times, 2 May 2025 Long before the internet glimmered to life, even medium-sized towns were home to as many as half a dozen newspapers. Megan Greenwell, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for glimmer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glimmer
Noun
  • While few details were shared at the time, there were hints that the podcast would soon be relaunching.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 26 June 2025
  • The strawberries are then quartered and added to the skillet alongside ruby port (a sweet fortified wine that generally tastes like red berries) and fresh ginger for a hint of sweet spice.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • Don’t burn out chasing every flicker of inspiration.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 June 2025
  • And while Sirens shows flickers of ambition to transcend the typical A-list crime soap, its admittedly addictive pleasures are chiefly of the sudsy variety.
    Judy Berman, Time, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • The gleaming family-style kitchen that's both welcoming and chic.
    Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 24 June 2025
  • Ranging from $45 to $55, the eight art prints in the capsule feature pre-framed designs that gleam with silver and gold foil detailing.
    Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Each piece is dressed with a sprinkling of ancho chili flakes, which add a subtle heat that compliments the coffee’s robustness.
    Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • Firefighters have not yet contained some of the strongest blazes, although officials hoped that a sprinkling of rain on Thursday would aid their emergency efforts, the Times reports.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The river was famous for its largemouth bass — one of the most economically important gamefish in the U.S. The wetlands shimmered with flocks of water birds.
    Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2025
  • Nestled in nine hectares of lush, landscaped gardens overlooking a long, sandy beach and the shimmering South China Sea, The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh is a haven of tranquility and wellbeing.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Athletes and coaches are loath to admit even a shred of positive in any defeat, let alone in the immediate aftermath, but if ever the moral victory existed, can’t Inter Miami claim some of that even after a 4-0 defeat?
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
  • Still, in a shred of good news, other figures showed that businesses are still investing, despite the persistent uncertainty over Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs and the potential impact of his massive tax and spending bill currently being reviewed by the US Senate.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Advertisement What Ennis fears, the violent murder that flashes through his mind when Lureen tells him of Jack’s death as a result of an exploding tire, is still happening.
    Rich Juzwiak, Time, 24 June 2025
  • The gambler made a bet, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen.
    Helena Wegner, Miami Herald, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • The Colorado Rapids, who have made their fair share of splash signings over the past two seasons, are ninth lowest in the league in payroll for their first-team players.
    Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 25 June 2025
  • The world’s largest sailing yacht just made a mighty splash in France.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glimmer. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on glimmer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!