as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
a glistening marble table top
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as in gleaming
to shoot forth bursts of light
this seemingly dull opal really glistens in full light
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Recent Examples of glistening
Alana Wise, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
The ridiculously nourishing formula leaves you glistening but never greasy, with the coconut, açai, and brazil nut oils restoring suppleness to a level that pleased our testers as much as its tropical, coconutty scent and mess-free pump.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
What can any of us make of our momentary intimate lives in such an immense world, with equally immense unknowns, mysteries as great as death or the whale, as deep as love or the ocean, as sad and beautiful as a jellyfish torn and glistening in a small fortress of shore rock?
—Natalie Diaz
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Outdoor scenes especially are artfully composed, such as a distant view of a bridge with the river flowing under it in the foreground, or the glistening look of a puddle on the street at night.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Its mesmerizing turquoise lakes, towering granite pinnacles, and vast, glistening glaciers have earned the park recognition as the crown jewel of Patagonia region, a vast natural frontier which stretches over 1,000 miles from Chile to the tip of Argentina.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Now every table features at least one order, dripping honey butter and glistening like a glazed donut.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In a makeshift classroom in a Roseland low-income housing complex, nine women watched nutrition educator Denetria Adams saute a glistening mix of carrots, celery and onion.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
The event was a fundraiser supporting non-profit organizations in India, and every other woman in the room was dressed in vibrant colors and glistening saris.
—Alisha Fernandez Miranda, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Meg lived in a somewhat offbeat district, but the tall shabby houses, some of them painted in garish colours, were soon left behind and gave place to discreetly glistening cream or white facades behind one of which Leonora lived.
—Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Their dining room now packed and wind in their sails, the couple is digging deeper into the cooking of Tussanaprasit’s native Chiang Mai, serving dishes like khao khan jin, a glistening mixture of rice, salty pork bits, and pork blood steamed in banana leaves.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Kathy Ten Eyck flew from Utica, New York into New Mexico to visit the glistening dunes of White Sands National Park.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
The ridiculously nourishing formula leaves you glistening but never greasy, with the coconut, açai, and brazil nut oils restoring suppleness to a level that pleased our testers as much as its tropical, coconutty scent and mess-free pump.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
What can any of us make of our momentary intimate lives in such an immense world, with equally immense unknowns, mysteries as great as death or the whale, as deep as love or the ocean, as sad and beautiful as a jellyfish torn and glistening in a small fortress of shore rock?
—Natalie Diaz
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Outdoor scenes especially are artfully composed, such as a distant view of a bridge with the river flowing under it in the foreground, or the glistening look of a puddle on the street at night.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Its mesmerizing turquoise lakes, towering granite pinnacles, and vast, glistening glaciers have earned the park recognition as the crown jewel of Patagonia region, a vast natural frontier which stretches over 1,000 miles from Chile to the tip of Argentina.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Now every table features at least one order, dripping honey butter and glistening like a glazed donut.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In a makeshift classroom in a Roseland low-income housing complex, nine women watched nutrition educator Denetria Adams saute a glistening mix of carrots, celery and onion.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
The event was a fundraiser supporting non-profit organizations in India, and every other woman in the room was dressed in vibrant colors and glistening saris.
—Alisha Fernandez Miranda, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Fast forward to September 21 this year, and Jefferson-Wooden’s smile was still beaming, but the medal around her neck was glistening brighter than ever before.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Meg lived in a somewhat offbeat district, but the tall shabby houses, some of them painted in garish colours, were soon left behind and gave place to discreetly glistening cream or white facades behind one of which Leonora lived.
—Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Their dining room now packed and wind in their sails, the couple is digging deeper into the cooking of Tussanaprasit’s native Chiang Mai, serving dishes like khao khan jin, a glistening mixture of rice, salty pork bits, and pork blood steamed in banana leaves.
—Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glistening
Adjective
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With Circle to Search, though, the feature isn't as polished right now.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
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The decorative buttons on the cuff add a polished touch, while the back slit on the pencil silhouette creates a flattering, leg-lengthening effect.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Museums are free, and so is public transportation, including gleaming new electric trams.—
Vivienne Walt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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Pale woods, vaulted ceilings, and large windows keep the place feeling light and bright even in the darkest part of the year, with views that extend from the mountain peaks to the valley below, gleaming white in the winter and lush with greenery in the summer.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Encased in a glossy synth-pop tune, producers Max Martin and Shellback lace the lyrics with a melody as addictive as a narcotic, hooking listeners from the start.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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The amphibian slip-ons, crafted in glossy green rubber with bulging eyes perched across the vamp, were first introduced at JW Anderson’s fall 2023 menswear show in Milan.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gothic cathedrals, art deco villas, vintage yellow trams, impeccably dressed signore, bright red Negronis glinting in the sun—these are some of the most classic symbols of Milan, but there’s a whole other side to the city, one that’s contemporary, cosmopolitan, and just plain cool.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
AFAR Media,
3 Oct. 2025
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Miles Mykkanen’s Sam gets to unsheathe his glinting high tenor, and Lauren Snouffer’s 14-year-old Sarah tosses her lithe soprano voice into airborne vaults.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Rivelia is De’Longhi’s newest and sleekest model, with dual bean hoppers for easy roast switching, 18 customizable drink recipes, and an accessory for making iced drinks with cold foam.—
Melissa Knific,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
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Paltrow styled her top with a sleek black skirt for a dressier look, while Gaines proved that denim-on-denim is anything but outdated with her jeans and coordinating shirt.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Michiganders as far south as West Branch, Manistee and Cadillac may be able to see the shimmering lights in the night sky to the north, NOAA says.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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On Katmai’s wild southeastern coast, however, guests of Natural Habitat Adventures, a partner of World Wildlife Fund, observe brown bears in near solitude on shimmering tidal flats and aqua bays.—
Susan Portnoy,
AFAR Media,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Pop a satin version on top of your usual night-out curls to make the 'do feel glamorous.—
Jasmine Washington,
Seventeen,
18 Jan. 2023
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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
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Follow the album drop LIVE with USA TODAY Taylor Swift Reporter Byran West and read USA TODAY's glittering review of Swift's playful pop.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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But behind the glittering resume was a reality defined by her immigration status.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Glistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glistening. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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