as in iridescent
having a rainbowlike play of colors
once given away as a cheap prize at carnivals, this opalescent glass is now highly prized by collectors
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Recent Examples of opalescent
Mike Navarro, an oceanographer at the University of Alaska Southeast, studied opalescent squids during his PhD at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
—
Jules Jacobs, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2025
The majestic stillness of the full beaver moon, hovering pink and opalescent in the horizon.
—Jennifer Hope Choi, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
The Ellipse required 90 cm of gold wire shaped by hand and 20 shades of opaque and opalescent enamel, while the table clock used over 16 m of gold wire in three different widths and 45 shades of mainly translucent enamel mixed with some semi-translucent or opaque versions of the material.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2025
Nor could anyone ever be a better pal to Leslie than Ann, opalescent tree shark.
—Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opalescent
Jules Jacobs, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2025
The majestic stillness of the full beaver moon, hovering pink and opalescent in the horizon.
—Jennifer Hope Choi, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
The Ellipse required 90 cm of gold wire shaped by hand and 20 shades of opaque and opalescent enamel, while the table clock used over 16 m of gold wire in three different widths and 45 shades of mainly translucent enamel mixed with some semi-translucent or opaque versions of the material.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2025
Nor could anyone ever be a better pal to Leslie than Ann, opalescent tree shark.
—Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opalescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opalescent
Adjective
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Its scales look almost iridescent, and a neon yellow stripe runs down its side.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
4 Aug. 2025
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As previously reported, the bright iridescent colors in things like peacock feathers and butterfly wings don't come from any pigment molecules but from how they are structured.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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The 13-minute show featured over 250 drones creating colorful animations in the sky over Park Avenue in downtown San Jose.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
13 Aug. 2025
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Pure Michigan says numerous state parks offer colorful ways to enjoy the outdoors.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Hopping In In the middle of this room sat my ride for the day: The 2025 Gunther Werks Turbo painted in gorgeous pearlescent orange.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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The color is a pearlescent pale green that catches the light and gives the nails a shiny polished effect.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opalescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opalescent. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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