as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
a glistening marble table top
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in gleaming
to shoot forth bursts of light
this seemingly dull opal really glistens in full light
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of glistening
Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
My colleagues, meanwhile, used forceps to pick glistening scale worms and peanut worms from the rocks.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
All of whom were mesmerized by her glistening skin and deeply sensual eyes, which often require nothing but black mascara.
—Essence, 1 Apr. 2026
This time, my eyes slid to the fresh silver polish on her fingernails, her cascading perm thick but without any undergrowth, and those eyes darting from me to the cop, glistening as if on the verge of pouring.
—Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
The velvet number had glistening golden fringe on the skirt.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
Crackle of dry winter ferns underfoot, the wet and glistening fallen trunks melting into loam—a beautiful chaos; the oldest kind of order.
—Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026
And all of those figures will move together into a new glistening practice facility before training camp begins.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Directed by Jerry Morka, the video finds BigX and company rolling out old-school automobiles dipped in candy paint with glistening rims, staying true to the Texan tradition of always doing it big.
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
He was hunched over, his shoulders rounded beneath the material of his dark blue blazer; his strong, square features were glistening with sweat.
—Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
Locking up that glistening new contract, and a load of political capital within the university, before Michigan locked up his team.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
This rapid change in temperature creates condensation, which is why your lawn is often glistening with dew on spring and summer mornings.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Head outside tonight and drink in the sight of the Pleiades open star cluster glistening close to the red star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus, before the mesmerizing naked-eye jewel slips out of view with the changing of the seasons.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Nearly forty years ago, Bloodsport launched the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme and helped propel him as a bankable leading man known for his glistening muscles and martial arts prowess.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The glistening lanes of the westbound 10 Freeway after a big rig carrying syrup overturned in Fontana on Monday, March 16, 2026.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
In the Giotto bed skirt, folds don’t just ripple so much as elegantly undulate, glistening with the kind of delicate sheen that only sateen and silk can accomplish.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The facade, designed by renown Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump and inspired by Blair, mixes glistening white metals and fiberglass with gold leaf accents that nod to the Eiffel Tower, Tower of Pisa, a Dutch windmill and more.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
My colleagues, meanwhile, used forceps to pick glistening scale worms and peanut worms from the rocks.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
All of whom were mesmerized by her glistening skin and deeply sensual eyes, which often require nothing but black mascara.
—Essence, 1 Apr. 2026
This time, my eyes slid to the fresh silver polish on her fingernails, her cascading perm thick but without any undergrowth, and those eyes darting from me to the cop, glistening as if on the verge of pouring.
—Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
The velvet number had glistening golden fringe on the skirt.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
Crackle of dry winter ferns underfoot, the wet and glistening fallen trunks melting into loam—a beautiful chaos; the oldest kind of order.
—Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026
And all of those figures will move together into a new glistening practice facility before training camp begins.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Directed by Jerry Morka, the video finds BigX and company rolling out old-school automobiles dipped in candy paint with glistening rims, staying true to the Texan tradition of always doing it big.
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
From heirloom tiaras to glistening sapphires and an ocean’s worth of pearls, Elizabeth had a bijou box worth millions—composed of both new pieces and the 142 Crown Jewels that are passed from monarch to monarch.
—Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
He was hunched over, his shoulders rounded beneath the material of his dark blue blazer; his strong, square features were glistening with sweat.
—Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
Locking up that glistening new contract, and a load of political capital within the university, before Michigan locked up his team.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
This rapid change in temperature creates condensation, which is why your lawn is often glistening with dew on spring and summer mornings.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Head outside tonight and drink in the sight of the Pleiades open star cluster glistening close to the red star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus, before the mesmerizing naked-eye jewel slips out of view with the changing of the seasons.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Nearly forty years ago, Bloodsport launched the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme and helped propel him as a bankable leading man known for his glistening muscles and martial arts prowess.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The glistening lanes of the westbound 10 Freeway after a big rig carrying syrup overturned in Fontana on Monday, March 16, 2026.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
In the Giotto bed skirt, folds don’t just ripple so much as elegantly undulate, glistening with the kind of delicate sheen that only sateen and silk can accomplish.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glistening
Adjective
-
The godet pleats are both polished and breezy, which is ideal for spring weather.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The jacket features a subtle stripe along each sleeve to give it a polished, sporty look.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The exercise was meant to drive home the importance of paying attention to real life, not the gleaming little screens that have taken over our world.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
It's only magnified by the gleaming white-stone beach and aquamarine water outside.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This rocking chair is equal parts dramatic and functional, featuring a stacked cylinder back, rocker frame and arm rests in a black glossy finish.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The thick, glossy coating is a perfect mix of sweet (honey), spicy (red pepper and fresh ginger), tang (vinegar) and umami (fish sauce).—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the gutter, the usual New Orleans blend of litter and live-oak leaves was topped by a shimmering layer of pink fish scales glinting in the sun.—
Daniel Brook,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The path down is picturesque, but peppered with black snakes glinting in the sun.—
Kristina Kasparian,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The purse is made from sleek, faux leather and comes with a detachable and adjustable crossbody strap (in addition to the top handle) for styling versatility.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The sleek staging, highlighted by a moving lighting beam that ran the length of the catwalk and three overhead video screens that faced each side of the arena, benefited from frequently frantic lights that added more drama to Welch’s story songs.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some of the most famous include an Andy Warhol screenprint of Marilyn Monroe, depicting her as both icon and commodity, and Ansel Adams’ timeless image of Wyoming’s shimmering Snake River against the mountainous backdrop of the Tetons, commissioned by the US Department of the Interior in the 1940s.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Mud volcanoes ooze liquified brown sediment and emit shimmering curtains of methane bubbles.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Pop a satin version on top of your usual night-out curls to make the 'do feel glamorous.—
Jasmine Washington,
Seventeen,
18 Jan. 2023
-
From satin pillowcases to a hydrating moisturizer, all of these products are on sale for less than $25.—
Isabel Garcia,
Peoplemag,
13 Jan. 2023
Verb
-
In addition to the many excursions on offer, including horseback riding, hiking with a local guide, and kayaking, an afternoon is well-spent around A Mandria’s large, glittering pool overlooking the Ortolo Valley.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Restless in the Florida Keys, Etta dreams of a life in Miami’s glittering, sub-tropical kingdom.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Glistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glistening. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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