as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
candles made from whale oil were once highly prized because they burned with an incandescence superior to that of other candles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 incandescence
With a name chosen to suggest incandescence, Candente’s grills sear fajitas made from prime skirt steak and ribeye infused with the unmistakable nuances infused by the distinctively strong, smoky, earthy flavors of mesquite smoke.
—
Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, the oscillating levels of incandescence brought to mind historical artworks not unlike the ones Pashgian encountered while studying art history at Columbia, Boston College, and Harvard before returning home in the mid-‘60s to focus on making work of her own.
—Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2024
The boy debates the merit of each name: on the one hand, chrysalides are green and hard and prone to explode in riots of incandescence; on the other, parrots are green, loud, and obnoxious.
—Beth Bachmann, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024
This profile from Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill is a bid to reclaim the valuable heat of Pallenberg’s incandescence, while never shielding viewers from her life’s lasting burn marks.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for incandescence
Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, the oscillating levels of incandescence brought to mind historical artworks not unlike the ones Pashgian encountered while studying art history at Columbia, Boston College, and Harvard before returning home in the mid-‘60s to focus on making work of her own.
—Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2024
The boy debates the merit of each name: on the one hand, chrysalides are green and hard and prone to explode in riots of incandescence; on the other, parrots are green, loud, and obnoxious.
—Beth Bachmann, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024
This profile from Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill is a bid to reclaim the valuable heat of Pallenberg’s incandescence, while never shielding viewers from her life’s lasting burn marks.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for incandescence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incandescence
Noun
-
Lit Ghost Cloche Add a small but impactful touch of Halloween with these little ghost cloches that add an eerie glow to coffee tables, shelves, and countertops.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
-
For the Grad School Queens and Teachers Whether she’s headed back to school for her master’s or ruling the classroom, the women returning to academia deserve a beauty routine that supports her grind without sacrificing her glow.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The overwhelming success of the book and the resulting media glare opened a divide between them.—
Anderson Tepper,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Mercury was part of it during August, but has since sunk back into the glare of the sun.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At the end of the historic galleries, where light begins pouring into the building, visitors move above ground and pass by a quote from poet and Civil Rights activist Langston Hughes.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
If caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To the west, Puerto Banús gleams with superyachts and designer boutiques—just minutes away by car or bike.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
That’s why using the right tools and techniques is key to maintaining its signature gleam.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Unlike some products that promise glow-in-the-dark illumination that barely shows, our testers found that the Takeya Actives Kids Water Bottle fully delivered on its promise.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Turquoise underwater illumination, my favorite kind of light.—
Anne Carson,
New Yorker,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incandescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incandescence. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share