as in glowing
giving off or reflecting much light
the shining moon formed a nice backdrop for our outdoor concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
Her world, fueled by her life, was the shining and irrefutable definition of integrity.
—Josh Peter, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
Two landmark cases centered around children and their use of social media are shining a spotlight on the ongoing parental debate over how much time kids and teens should be spending on those platforms.
—Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
Her world, fueled by her life, was the shining and irrefutable definition of integrity.
—Josh Peter, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
This is our land, from sea to shining sea.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
Two landmark cases centered around children and their use of social media are shining a spotlight on the ongoing parental debate over how much time kids and teens should be spending on those platforms.
—Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shining
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shining
Adjective
-
The glowing hose creates a visible path that helps rescuers navigate thick smoke and find their way back to safety.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Beneath that display of hot gases, a glowing fringe of orange on the rim indicated that the edges of the fire were pushing out far to the east and west.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Baumler was beaming as the huddle broke.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Fans of original Trek will also be happy to see Spock, Uhura and, later, Scotty, on the show, beaming down with their old-school flip communicators.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Remove all oil residue from the nail beds before polishing.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Harsh Chemicals and Abrasive Cleaners Avoid using harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners when cleaning and polishing wood flooring.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Twentieth century painter Agnes Pelton created luminous abstractions in nearby Cathedral City, while assemblage artist Noah Purifoy spent the final decade of his life building the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum of Assemblage Art in Joshua Tree.—
Jane Horowitz,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Indeed, the LRDs are cooler and more luminous than our current SMS models predict.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For many families, the gleaming cruise ships offer an effortless and luxurious option for exploring the ocean.—
Steve Adelstein,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Vietnam is a country with a breathtakingly beautiful coastline, a mouthwatering food scene, and vibrant cities where UNESCO World Heritage Sites huddle in the shadow of gleaming skyscrapers.—
Tamara Hinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The slightly higher cut helps prevent sneakers from rubbing your ankle or the top of your foot.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
-
So, the timing for Mortensen to be making his second show debut right as his ex’s is being pulled off the air is rubbing fans the wrong way.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Early’s dazzling season debut was nearly pristine.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Yaxel Lendeborg had 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a dazzling all-around performance, and Michigan beat Alabama 90-77 on Friday night to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a bohemian vibe radiating from Serena & Lily’s Kittery rug, but the rigid grid motif lends the design some structure, a detail that can appeal to more formal design personalities.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Grayson is a strong and beautiful presence, radiating warmth, humor, and style, and sporting a wide range of talents.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shining. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
