GLITTER Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of glitter are flash , gleam , glimmer , glint , glisten , shimmer , and sparkle . While all these words mean "to send forth light," glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming. // glittering diamonds

Q: When might 'flash' be a better fit than 'glitter'?

The synonyms flash and glitter are sometimes interchangeable, but flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light. // lightning flashed

Q: Where would 'gleam' be a reasonable alternative to 'glitter'?

The words gleam and glitter 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

Q: When would 'glimmer' be a good substitute for 'glitter'?

In some situations, the words glimmer and glitter are roughly equivalent. However, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam. // a distant glimmering light

Q: In what contexts can 'glint' take the place of 'glitter'?

The meanings of glint and glitter largely overlap; however, glint implies a cold glancing light. // glinting steel

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

Although the words glisten and glitter have much in common, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface. // glistening wet sidewalk

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

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

Q: When is 'sparkle' a more appropriate choice than 'glitter'?

The words sparkle and glitter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light. // the sparkling waters

glitter 1 of 2

verb

ˈgli-tər

Definition of glitter

as in to gleam

to shoot forth bursts of light the queen's crown glittered under the glare of the TV lights

Synonyms & Similar Words

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glitter

2 of 2

noun

as in shimmer

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in gilt

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb glitter contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glitter are flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When might flash be a better fit than glitter?

The synonyms flash and glitter are sometimes interchangeable, but flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

Where would gleam be a reasonable alternative to glitter?

The words gleam and glitter 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 would glimmer be a good substitute for glitter?

In some situations, the words glimmer and glitter are roughly equivalent. However, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

In what contexts can glint take the place of glitter?

The meanings of glint and glitter largely overlap; however, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When is it sensible to use glisten instead of glitter?

Although the words glisten and glitter have much in common, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

When can shimmer be used instead of glitter?

While the synonyms shimmer and glitter are close in meaning, shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

When is sparkle a more appropriate choice than glitter?

The words sparkle and glitter 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 glitter

Verb

Le Bistrot de Jan is a lovely jewel box just off the lobby, with glittering chandeliers and walls and furniture in deep sapphire and ruby tones. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026 From glittering ghosts, ghastly goblins and wicked witches to wily warlocks, fashion can inspire any Halloween transformation. — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026

Noun

The art of assemblage, a cobbling together of things with glue, glitter, and grit, became a way of life. — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 But Huettl’s personal favorite looks are ones that she’s created for games with a good cause, such green elastics, glitter, and hair ties for the team’s Mental Health Awareness Game or pink details for the Breast Cancer Awareness Game. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for glitter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for glitter

Verb

There’s a gleaming hospital and a string of new downtown spots to supplement The Bar, the beloved dive that was supposedly among the inspirations for the Patch Café in the TV series Landman, which is set here.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
In others, the walls are paneled in a gleaming hardwood, which sets off the furniture, upholstered in black and dark-gray velvets.

— Kim Velsey, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of gleam

Noun

Or, try Green Eyed Monster from Mooncat, a pearly white shimmer that glows neon green in the dark.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 24 Oct. 2026
But the brand’s shimmer has worn off over the decades, first under Ford and then under India’s Tata Motors, which bought Jaguar Land Rover in 2008.

— Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of shimmer

Noun

From the 20th century is a 1933 copper and gilt sculpture by California modernist artist Sargent Claude Johnson.

— Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
This has prompted investors to reevaluate the interest rate trajectory of the Bank of England, providing upward momentum for UK gilt yields.

— , CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of gilt

Verb

However, the company's North American business would have reported volume growth if not for the timing of the Fourth of July holiday and the monthslong shortage of Topo Chico, a sparkling water brand Coke owns, Murphy told CNBC.

— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Boisset also has younger wine drinkers in mind with his plans for Artesa, which began life in 1992 as sparkling-wine house Codorniu Napa, a New World extension of the Raventós Codorníu family of Cava fame.

— Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparkle

Noun

The airy New Preston wine bar with its twinkle-light patio perched on a hill is the ideal place for an al fresco aperitivo.

— Christina Pérez, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
The vine features black leaves, twigs, and twinkle lights that add a touch of Victorian gothic charm to any display.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of twinkle

Noun

In another effort to pay homage to her heritage, Osaka’s Wimbledon attire was a ceremonial Japanese dress with billowing long sleeves, ornate embroidery and a ruffled skirt.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
The embroidery follows Apple’s use of stop-motion animation campaigns for the Mac mini and Apple Games, which also followed the route of showing the humans at work behind the animation.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of embroidery

Verb

Some of the boldest convictions come from the executives at the top of firms whose economists are flashing warning lights.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026
As the dark countryside of western Oregon flashed by, Madsen opted to watch a show on his phone — then a text from a random number popped up at the top of his screen.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of flash

Noun

And because water and most other liquids can’t persist on a planet’s surface without an insulating blanket of air, seeing such a glint could signal the presence of an atmosphere as well.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
Now that the greige days are finally behind us, a glint of sparkle truly delights.

— Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of glint

Browse Nearby Words

glitches

glitter

glitterati

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Style

“Glitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glitter. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of glitter

verb

noun

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