as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface
polished the metal until it had an even sheen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to shimmer
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sheen
Alex Sales, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026
Perhaps that frustration was also informed by an awareness of some of Cale’s other work, which both outstrips The Unknown in some ways and gives the play an engaging metatextual sheen.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 May 2023
Professor:Oily sheen on East Palestine creek behaving like vinyl chloride So far, Ohio EPA says its tests have not detected vinyl chloride in waterways.
—Anna Staver, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sheen
Noun
The sheen of the leather, the oversized round buckle—these flat sandals are inherently elegant and modern without trying to be so.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2026
Perhaps that frustration was also informed by an awareness of some of Cale’s other work, which both outstrips The Unknown in some ways and gives the play an engaging metatextual sheen.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
The latter was already buffed to a brilliant R&B sheen thanks to production and songwriting contributions from Babyface, the Rascals, and BLK.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 May 2023
Professor:Oily sheen on East Palestine creek behaving like vinyl chloride So far, Ohio EPA says its tests have not detected vinyl chloride in waterways.
—Anna Staver, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sheen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheen
Noun
-
When the action rises in intensity, this gleam gathers quickly to a fiery glow of tragic power.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Your 4th House of Traditions gleams under today’s Full Moon, so private needs are potentially straining against public duties.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After being shaped, the gold is finished to give the medals their shimmering patina.—
Micaela English,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The long shimmering dress dress included a thigh-high slit and a pleated texture made of bold stripes that added a playful edge and gentle draping.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The team led by Paola Tiranti observed Uranus for nearly a full rotation, detecting the faint glow from molecules up to 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometres) above the cloud tops.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The illuminating skin tint instantly blurs and brightens my complexion and leaves behind a soft-focus glow—almost as if my skin were an IRL filter.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The adjacent chamber is in glittering gold tiles and features designs that are themselves mosaics of jewels, silks, sequins and even mink.—
Jane Wooldridge,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix A tranquil slice of heaven with grey stones, glittering koi and green bonsai trees.—
TreNesha Striggles,
AZCentral.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His Davis, with short dark hair and a beard and a glint of dread in his eye, is edgy and preoccupied, maybe even a bit nervous.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The glint in the baby’s eyes is miraculous.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Surrounded by a never-ending patchwork of tea plantations, with Castlereagh Reservoir glistening in the distance, this beautiful bungalow is a picture of colonial elegance.—
Harriet Compston,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Keep it cute and simple with a purple manicure that glistens.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Over the decades the classic ski look has been complimented by Norwegian sweaters, glare-shunning sunglasses and furry boots.—
David G. Allan Feb 15,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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In the fluorescent glare of a rundown Indonesian wig factory, vats of human hair simmer in huge cauldrons, stirred by hunched laborers as rows of mannequin heads watch blankly from the dark.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Read a book and sip tea in front of the central fireplace, swim between the indoor and outdoor sections of the glimmering pool, and soak your aching quads in the hot tubs under the evergreens and aspens while listening to the peaceful babble of Gore Creek.—
Sarah Kuta,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
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Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil A grown-up take on body glitter, this luxurious, lightweight oil contains glimmering pigments that illuminate my décolletage, shoulders, and shins in a few quick spritzes.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheen. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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