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shimmer

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb shimmer contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of shimmer are flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

When is it sensible to use flash instead of shimmer?

The meanings of flash and shimmer largely overlap; however, flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When can gleam be used instead of shimmer?

While in some cases nearly identical to shimmer, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When could glimmer be used to replace shimmer?

In some situations, the words glimmer and shimmer are roughly equivalent. However, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

Where would glint be a reasonable alternative to shimmer?

The words glint and shimmer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

In what contexts can glisten take the place of shimmer?

The words glisten and shimmer can be used in similar contexts, but glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

When might glitter be a better fit than shimmer?

While the synonyms glitter and shimmer are close in meaning, glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When would sparkle be a good substitute for shimmer?

Although the words sparkle and shimmer have much in common, sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

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 shimmer
Verb
Evening light spills across the pollinator gardens—alive with bees, hummingbirds, and the occasional wandering chicken—before dissolving into the shimmer of the Mackinac Bridge. Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025 The sun had barely risen over the Arabian Sea, casting a pale gold shimmer across the water as a small fishing boat rocked gently on the swells. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025 Michiganders as far south as West Branch, Manistee and Cadillac may be able to see the shimmering lights in the night sky to the north, NOAA says. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shimmer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shimmer
Verb
  • Critics see gleaming towers rising from desert sand and detect not ambition but emptiness — a city with an unlimited line of credit, but without a soul.
    Bobby Ghosh, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The West Wing’s White House represented a sacred workplace with gleaming wood and flattering lighting that was populated with smart people trying to do good for the country.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Astronomers have unveiled the largest low-frequency radio color image of the Milky Way ever created, offering a sprawling cosmic panorama that reveals supernova remnants, stellar nurseries, pulsars and the intricate glow of gas and dust weaving through our galaxy’s heart.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
  • And in October 2025, her daughter emulated mom's rosy glow and undone hair in the same dress at the PAC NYC Icons of Culture Gala alongside dad Michael Douglas.
    Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Siwa’s mother, Jessalyn, and father, Tom, were painstakingly gluing the glittering stones on every inch of her tour costumes, down to her Nike Air Force 1s.
    Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Hilton matched the high-shine of the crystals on the shoe with a glittering black slipdress.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Break out the sunglasses and lower those sun shades — the season of early-morning safety closures for sun glare on eastbound Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill is back.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The object, temporarily obscured from Earth by solar glare, is being closely tracked by spacecraft, including those operated by NASA.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Dunkin’s new Berry Sangria Refresher combines a berry-forward holiday punch with customers’ choice of green tea, black tea, lemonade or sparkling water to make the drinks their own.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The eatery specializes in pintxos, the Basque equivalent of tapas, and serves up charcuterie, paellas and dishes meant to be shared, paired with inventive cocktails and wine from all over Basque country, from riojas to sparkling txakolina.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Some may even have a silver or gold metallic sheen to their appearance.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
  • My husband loves that this particular style is infused with a touch of precious metal to give off a slight metallic sheen.
    Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In just 24 minutes, Coulibaly delivered 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, flashing the defensive instincts and athleticism that have defined his game since arriving in Washington.
    Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • As the lights came up, the Fort Worth theater erupted with applause as the duo’s name flashed across the credits.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sundae looked up at the photo on the wall, at Holly Jolly, smiling without shark teeth, sprig of holly glinting on his lapel.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Picture yourself in an old observatory on a crisp, starry autumn night—bronze instruments glinting in the dim light, surrounded by aged leather and parchment maps.
    Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shimmer. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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