SHINING Synonyms: 150 Similar and Opposite Words

shining 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshī-niŋ

Definition of shining

as in glowing

giving off or reflecting much light the shining moon formed a nice backdrop for our outdoor concert

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shine

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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

There’s no better place to be than Chicago when both teams are winning, the sun is shining and a cool breeze sweeps in off the lake. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 There was a full moon out that night and the light behind him was shining directly behind his head. — Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shining

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shining

Adjective

But more than 20 years since one of the studio’s finest moments, the reception to its annual releases, including this week’s NBA 2K27, is no longer so glowing.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Safety issues The reviews coming out of last week’s debut for USC’s defense were less glowing for the secondary, which gave up three pass plays of 20 yards or more in the second half.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of glowing

Verb

Running a raw, unedited Q&A shows the reality of the technology without a corporate PR team polishing the rough edges or hiding the structural failures.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Some jobs that previously relied on hand craftsmanship but can now be automated made the top 10, including patternmakers and grinding and polishing workers.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of polishing

Adjective

Dozens of very luminous stellar cluster members are known, but this area likely has far more stars that are fainter hidden behind a vast smog of opaque dust between the center of the galaxy and the sun.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
These tools and expert tips are your best weapon for reclaiming a smooth, even toned and luminous complexion.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of luminous

Verb

In their place stands One World Trade Center, a gleaming glass tower that rises defiantly above a skyline that has been forever changed.

— Thomas E. Franklin, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
In This Article Fireclay sinks have been a kitchen staple for centuries, with their iconic, usually white, gleaming glaze that turns an otherwise utilitarian fixture into a striking visual highlight.

— Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of gleaming

Verb

One juror was rubbing his eyes as Sullivan talked, and another was clasping and unclasping his hands in his lap.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
Danger, Olivo, and Mosco had just eaten by the gazebo and Damaris was rubbing her pup’s head goodnight, about to go into the shack.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of rubbing

Verb

Youth and parents linked their loss of care to spikes in anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, with stress radiating through entire families.

— Dr. SJ Job, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
The map shows other towers close by, each radiating a string that is fastened to the map when other towers radio in readings.

— Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of radiating

Browse Nearby Words

shininess

shining

shinned

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Style

“Shining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shining. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shining

adjective

verb

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