as in opalescent
having a rainbowlike play of colors
the nacreous lining of the shell of a mollusk
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Recent Examples of nacreous
Quahogs produce non-nacreous, porcelainlike pearls, according to the Gemological Institute of America.
—
Shannon Marvel McNaught, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2022
Markov processes include an element of randomness—in this case, the thickness of the outermost nacreous layer—but one that can be influenced by the system’s history.
—Leila Sloman, Popular Mechanics, 28 Feb. 2022
Tiffany has a long-standing history with pearls, both nacreous—from oysters and mollusks—and non-nacreous, like Melo Melo pearls.
—Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 20 Feb. 2021
An alternative explanation is that the red skies were the result of nacreous clouds common to that particular latitude.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 May 2020
Also called polar stratospheric clouds (or less precisely, rainbow clouds), nacreous clouds normally only form in high latitudes and at extremely cold temperatures.
—National Geographic, 3 Feb. 2016
Unfortunately, nacreous clouds also support chemical reactions that convert benign chlorine-containing molecules into a form that destroys Earth’s ozone layer.
—Rebecca Coffey, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2012
Shannon Marvel McNaught, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2022
Markov processes include an element of randomness—in this case, the thickness of the outermost nacreous layer—but one that can be influenced by the system’s history.
—Leila Sloman, Popular Mechanics, 28 Feb. 2022
Tiffany has a long-standing history with pearls, both nacreous—from oysters and mollusks—and non-nacreous, like Melo Melo pearls.
—Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 20 Feb. 2021
An alternative explanation is that the red skies were the result of nacreous clouds common to that particular latitude.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 May 2020
Also called polar stratospheric clouds (or less precisely, rainbow clouds), nacreous clouds normally only form in high latitudes and at extremely cold temperatures.
—National Geographic, 3 Feb. 2016
Unfortunately, nacreous clouds also support chemical reactions that convert benign chlorine-containing molecules into a form that destroys Earth’s ozone layer.
—Rebecca Coffey, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2012
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nacreous
Adjective
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Look to opalescent chrome powders, which can shift from pink to blue to green and give a milky white manicure underneath some unexpected pizzazz.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
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Orlando sees their house from a distance below them, small as an opalescent shell.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Pigeons with iridescent purple necks strut about, and ducks continuously inquire, hoping for tidbits from passersby.—
Chi Varnado,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
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Opt for Variation To lend depth and texture to your space, look for iridescent tile options that have artisanal detail and subtle variation, suggests Khahil.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Despite the colorful comparisons, Williams and Tsien based the museum’s shape on a visual of four hands coming together, promoting the idea that many hands shape a place, according to the center.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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This simple recipe uses red and yellow heirloom tomatoes for a colorful contrast.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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To my right was a picture of a pearlescent orb floating on a blank field.—
Jonathan Odden,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Crafted by her A-list artist Zola Ganzorigt, her rounded talons were dressed in a pearlescent baby pink polish and finished with rhinestone tips.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nacreous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nacreous. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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