scintillate

verb

ˈsin-tə-ˌlāt How to pronounce scintillate (audio)
Definition of scintillatenext
1
as in to sparkle
to give off sparks we watched contentedly as our campfire scintillated in the darkness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light the diamond ring scintillated in the sunlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 scintillate Hill has positioned himself as a candidate for the Smythe Trophy (awarded to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Finals) following another scintillating performance in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals. — oregonlive, 11 June 2023 Indeed, in his third career start Sunday night, Miller offered more of the scintillating same — even if the Dodgers couldn’t capitalize upon it in a frustrating 4-1 loss at Chavez Ravine. — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2023 From the inland hills of Lake Garda, the winery produces this scintillating rosé from a blend of corvina, molinara, corvinone and rondinella. — Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 25 May 2023 The musician posted a short but scintillating clip on Twitter that features a snippet of the song’s slinky groove. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for scintillate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scintillate
  1. sparkle
  2. gleam
  3. glow
  4. flash
  5. shimmer
  6. shine
  7. glisten
Verb
  • Beaming in the photos, the couple looked overjoyed as Shiffrin showed off her dazzling engagement ring, which featured a sparkling diamond set between two gold bands.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
  • Rooms The rooms vary in size and decor, but each one is true to the property's aesthetic, featuring pretty pastels, sumptuous bedding, soaring ceilings, and sparkling chandeliers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of sparkle
Verb
  • The place completed the renovation in 2022, so everything is crisp, gorgeous, and gleaming new.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
  • Where would musical theater be without gleaming little prop vials of potions?
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 July 2026
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • On warm Carolina nights in Steele Creek, string lights glow overhead and oldies drift through the speakers.
    — Tristan Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
  • The spa, wrapped in glowing green marble, offers a peaceful escape where therapists personalize treatments using blends of Biologique Recherche products.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • The governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to flash flooding.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • An important index for chip stocks is flashing a technical warning sign, possibly signaling a drawdown of as much as 17%, according to investment bank BTIG.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Definition of flash
Verb
  • Disco, with its shimmering rays of citrus and sultry amber notes, will transport you to a stress-free state of mind and a crowded dance floor.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 14 July 2026
  • Crow took the stage in a black vest and sparkly, navy blue pants that shimmered back the colors of the stage lights.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
Definition of shimmer
Verb
  • Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
  • There’s nothing like it—the sun shining, a warm breeze tussling your hair, waves rushing onto the shore, and breathing in the fresh, salty air.
    — Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 14 July 2026
Definition of shine
Verb
  • Harrowing body camera video released by the NYPD captures the frightening moments as Emergency Service Unit officers plead with the woman to back away from the edge, as sun glistened off the cold water below.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
  • Muchová faded from the set after that, leaving the court at the set break while Gauff remained, unbothered by the sun and the sweat glistening on her shoulders.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of glisten

Browse Nearby Words

scintillas
scintillate
scintillated
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Scintillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scintillate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on scintillate

Nglish: Translation of scintillate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All