Synonyms of shining

shining 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshī-niŋ 

as in glowing

giving off or reflecting much light

the shining moon formed a nice backdrop for our outdoor concert

Synonyms & Similar Words

• glowing
• luminous
• dazzling
• bright
• shiny
• gleaming
• radiant
• shimmering
• flashing
• flickering
• brilliant
• blazing
• sparkling
• glittering
• glistening
• effulgent
• refulgent
• splendid
• shined
• lambent
• lustrous
• clear
• beaming
• incandescent
• burning
• blinding
• lucent
• fulgent
• flaming
• polished
• candescent
• lucid
• bedazzling
• fiery
• sheeny
• sunny
• twinkling
• glancing
• glaring
• winking
• burnished
• glinting
• glimmering
• shimmery
• ardent
• scintillating
• flaring
• red-hot
• scintillant
• glistering
• gemmy
• aglitter
• agleam
• ablaze
• combusting
• coruscant
• ultrabright
• superbright

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dim
• dark
• dull
• darkened
• blackened
• dusky
• gloomy
• lackluster
• obscure
• dimmed
• somber
• obscured
• unlit
• darkling
• pitch-black
• lightless
• darkish
• pitch-dark
• murky
• cloudy
• shadowy
• darksome
• pale
• gray
• shady
• unbright
• unbrilliant
• leaden
• tenebrous
• sunless
• shadowlike
• palish

shining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shine

1

as in beaming

to emit rays of light

the sun appears to shine particularly brightly in summer because that is when it's closest to the Earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• glowing
• beaming
• gleaming
• radiating
• flashing
• flickering
• flaring
• burning
• glinting
• glittering
• blazing
• glistening
• shimmering
• glimmering
• illuminating
• illumining
• raying
• sparkling
• twinkling
• firing
• flaming
• lighting
• glaring
• glistering
• brightening
• beating (down)
• scintillating
• spangling
• blinding
• lightening
• blinking
• sheening
• dazzling
• luminescing
• coruscating
• winking
• winkling
• irradiating
• lustering
• bedazzling
• dazing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• darkening
• lowering
• blackening

2

as in polishing

to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure

the salesman shined his shoes every morning before leaving the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• polishing
• rubbing
• smoothing
• burnishing
• coating
• scrubbing
• glossing
• buffing
• scraping
• grinding
• dressing
• furbishing
• bobbing
• facing
• finishing
• brightening
• glazing
• smoothening
• sanding
• slicking
• filing
• varnishing
• scouring
• sleeking
• japanning
• lacquering
• sandblasting
• veneering
• sandpapering
• lapping
• boning
• rasping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ruffling
• roughing (up)
• scuffing (up)
• roughening

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shining

Adjective

Eloise's shining moment comes in Quinn's To Sir Phillip, With Love, and follows her love story with Sir Phillip Crane—yes, that Phillip, who married his late brother's true love Marina Thompson. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026

Not far away are the Pleiades, a beautiful shining star cluster that resembles a tiny Big Dipper. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 28 Dec. 2025

Verb

After spending most of his career working hard in a sport that barely registers any level of attention in the wider world, Ainslie welcomes the brighter — but also harsher — spotlight that this seven-year-old league is shining on sailboat racing. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 24 July 2026

The pass rush group was under the microscope Friday — and will continue to be after losing such a shining star like Scourton. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026