Thesaurus

glisten

Q: How does the verb 'glisten' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glisten are flash , gleam , glimmer , glint , glitter , shimmer , and sparkle . While all these words mean "to send forth light," glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface. // glistening wet sidewalk

Q: When would 'flash' be a good substitute for 'glisten'?

The words flash and glisten can be used in similar contexts, but flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light. // lightning flashed

Q: When could 'gleam' be used to replace 'glisten'?

Although the words gleam and glisten have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background. // lights gleamed in the valley

Q: Where would 'glimmer' be a reasonable alternative to 'glisten'?

The words glimmer and glisten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam. // a distant glimmering light

Q: When might 'glint' be a better fit than 'glisten'?

While in some cases nearly identical to glisten , glint implies a cold glancing light. // glinting steel

Q: When is it sensible to use 'glitter' instead of 'glisten'?

The meanings of glitter and glisten largely overlap; however, glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming. // glittering diamonds

Q: When can 'shimmer' be used instead of 'glisten'?

While the synonyms shimmer and glisten are close in meaning, shimmer means shining with a wavering light. // a shimmering satin dress

Q: In what contexts can 'sparkle' take the place of 'glisten'?

The synonyms sparkle and glisten are sometimes interchangeable, but sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light. // the sparkling waters

verb

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Synonyms of glisten

(Entry 1 of 2)

to shoot forth bursts of light

this seemingly dull opal really glistens in full light

Synonyms for glisten

Words Related to glisten

glisten

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms of glisten (Entry 2 of 2)

as in glow, gleam

Synonyms & Near Synonyms for glisten

finish,
glaze

Antonyms & Near Antonyms for glisten

grayness,
paleness

Frequently Asked Questions About glisten

How does the verb glisten contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glisten are flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

When would flash be a good substitute for glisten?

The words flash and glisten can be used in similar contexts, but flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When could gleam be used to replace glisten?

Although the words gleam and glisten have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley