as in glistening
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as in gleaming
to shoot forth bursts of light
a sequined dress shimmering under the studio lights
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Recent Examples of shimmering
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
On Monday, the Project Runway star opted for a different shimmering silhouette, selecting a burgundy frock covered in clear sequins.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
The horrors under the monoliths’ shimmering surfaces remind us to look at the land, then look deeper.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
As the Orion capsule was pulling away from Earth late Thursday, April 2, 2026, commander Reid Wiseman captured a stunning view of the home planet, showing northern Africa, the Strait of Gibraltar, the lush coast of Brazil across the Atlantic Ocean and shimmering auroral displays over the poles.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
There are blinking bacteria, flaming fungus, shimmering squid, and flashing fish.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The Zenith edition, meanwhile, adds some jewelry-esqe sophistication to that aluminum look, thanks to 289 spheres that play with texture and shimmering mother-of-pearl inlays.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026
Slightly shimmering effects reflect light in a subtle way, bringing luminosity without being exaggerated; it can be glazed donut–style chrome, or for a more intense effect try a cat-eye finish.
—Andrea Carbajal, Glamour, 31 Mar. 2026
Far from the modest wellness areas typical of city hotels, this is a vast, shimmering sanctuary.
—Vicki Power, TheWeek, 31 Mar. 2026
Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
Mud volcanoes ooze liquified brown sediment and emit shimmering curtains of methane bubbles.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Just days earlier, Zendaya attended the New York City premiere of the film in a shimmering Schiaparelli ballgown from the designer's Spring 2026 couture collection and 44 carats of sapphires.
—Staff Author, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, heat 1/4 inch oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
—Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
When oil is shimmering and easily slides across surface of pan, carefully add tofu in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown underneath, about 4-5 minutes.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles, that magical realm of shimmering natural beauty, was befouled by smog — maybe forever.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Then there's Texas, the perennial Democratic mirage--always shimmering on the horizon.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
From Willis Tower to the shimmering glass towers along Lake Michigan, the skyline tells a story of aspiration and possibility.
—Tonika Lewis Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Auroras are typically easiest to see after full darkness sets in and before dawn, when the sky is darkest and solar particles interacting with Earth's magnetic field create glowing arcs and shimmering curtains of light.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
On Monday, the Project Runway star opted for a different shimmering silhouette, selecting a burgundy frock covered in clear sequins.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026
The horrors under the monoliths’ shimmering surfaces remind us to look at the land, then look deeper.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
As the Orion capsule was pulling away from Earth late Thursday, April 2, 2026, commander Reid Wiseman captured a stunning view of the home planet, showing northern Africa, the Strait of Gibraltar, the lush coast of Brazil across the Atlantic Ocean and shimmering auroral displays over the poles.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
There are blinking bacteria, flaming fungus, shimmering squid, and flashing fish.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The Zenith edition, meanwhile, adds some jewelry-esqe sophistication to that aluminum look, thanks to 289 spheres that play with texture and shimmering mother-of-pearl inlays.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026
Slightly shimmering effects reflect light in a subtle way, bringing luminosity without being exaggerated; it can be glazed donut–style chrome, or for a more intense effect try a cat-eye finish.
—Andrea Carbajal, Glamour, 31 Mar. 2026
Far from the modest wellness areas typical of city hotels, this is a vast, shimmering sanctuary.
—Vicki Power, TheWeek, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Some of the most famous include an Andy Warhol screenprint of Marilyn Monroe, depicting her as both icon and commodity, and Ansel Adams’ timeless image of Wyoming’s shimmering Snake River against the mountainous backdrop of the Tetons, commissioned by the US Department of the Interior in the 1940s.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
Mud volcanoes ooze liquified brown sediment and emit shimmering curtains of methane bubbles.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Just days earlier, Zendaya attended the New York City premiere of the film in a shimmering Schiaparelli ballgown from the designer's Spring 2026 couture collection and 44 carats of sapphires.
—Staff Author, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, heat 1/4 inch oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
—Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
When oil is shimmering and easily slides across surface of pan, carefully add tofu in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown underneath, about 4-5 minutes.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles, that magical realm of shimmering natural beauty, was befouled by smog — maybe forever.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Then there's Texas, the perennial Democratic mirage--always shimmering on the horizon.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
From Willis Tower to the shimmering glass towers along Lake Michigan, the skyline tells a story of aspiration and possibility.
—Tonika Lewis Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shimmering
Adjective
-
The facade, designed by renown Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump and inspired by Blair, mixes glistening white metals and fiberglass with gold leaf accents that nod to the Eiffel Tower, Tower of Pisa, a Dutch windmill and more.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
My colleagues, meanwhile, used forceps to pick glistening scale worms and peanut worms from the rocks.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The second narrative, the one that came later—with science fiction reinventing the robot as gleaming, futuristic, aspirational—built a future that, as imagined by European and American science fiction writers, was white.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Apr. 2026
-
His beans are on the menus of many top Bay Area restaurants, and a gleaming flagship store that opened in downtown Napa last week could be seen as a culmination of his 25 years of influence.—
Tara Duggan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The county became a glittering crystal mecca not necessarily because of top-down industrial policy, but because of a nearly all-consuming drive to hustle.—
Louise Matsakis Rachel Zheng,
Wired News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the gutter, the usual New Orleans blend of litter and live-oak leaves was topped by a shimmering layer of pink fish scales glinting in the sun.—
Daniel Brook,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The path down is picturesque, but peppered with black snakes glinting in the sun.—
Kristina Kasparian,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ahead of the Golden Globes in January, Grande shared another rare, bare-faced video to highlight her pre-red carpet routine, which included a baby-pink eye and shimmery brow courtesy of her makeup artist Michael Anthony.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
-
On January 3, Bailey escaped the cold while on vacation, sharing a snapshot with her hair styled in twists, shimmery lips, and fluttery lashes.—
Akili King,
Essence,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But what about the fact that renewable energy sources are intermittent — that is, solar does not produce electricity when the sun is not shining and batteries typically run for about four hours?—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The night’s big shining star was the venue itself.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Refreshers can be ordered in both still and sparkling versions, accommodating afternoons that could use a bit of effervescence.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Demi Engemann preferred sparkling water, sugar-free coconut, sugar-free raspberry, sugar-free pineapple and coconut cream.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nevertheless, employers understandably saw the warning as a yellow light, if not a flashing red light.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Jordan is wearing bridal white, while Fleetwood is decked out in a weather-appropriate short-sleeve button-up, flashing a gold band on his ring finger.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shimmering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shimmering. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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