sparkle 1 of 2

1
as in to glow
to give off sparks while fireworks that sparkle may be entertaining to look at, they can be highly dangerous when used indoors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2

sparkle

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb sparkle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sparkle are flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, and shimmer. While all these words mean "to send forth light," sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

Where would flash be a reasonable alternative to sparkle?

While the synonyms flash and sparkle are close in meaning, flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When might gleam be a better fit than sparkle?

Although the words gleam and sparkle have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When is glimmer a more appropriate choice than sparkle?

The words glimmer and sparkle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

In what contexts can glint take the place of sparkle?

In some situations, the words glint and sparkle are roughly equivalent. However, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When would glisten be a good substitute for sparkle?

The meanings of glisten and sparkle largely overlap; however, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

When can glitter be used instead of sparkle?

The words glitter and sparkle can be used in similar contexts, but glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When is it sensible to use shimmer instead of sparkle?

While in some cases nearly identical to sparkle, shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

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 sparkle
Verb
Cut by hand, not machine, its softer sparkle revealing both rarity and history. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Griffin Dunne, Carol Kane, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, Regina King, Vincent D’Onofrio, and more (plus a murderer’s row of recognizable NYC voices) all add the kind of sparkle that Butler’s more restrained (and often quite compelling) performance can’t quite allow for. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Founded by designer Ami Austin in 2004, the firm is known for its impactful interiors, which frequently combine sparkling lighting, rich color palettes, metallic accents, and antiques with presence. Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2025 Emily Blunt brought shimmer and sparkle in her strapless dress, featuring sculptural appliqués. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sparkle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparkle
Verb
  • For observers in Australia, Asia, Africa and parts of Europe, the rise of the full moon will be followed by its journey through Earth’s shadow in space, with its surface glowing reddish-orange for 82 minutes.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Lillusory Scallop Cardigan in Navy, $18 with coupon The sweater is starting to receive five-star ratings and glowing reviews.
    Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If the Guard comes, it will be limited to patrolling our city’s gleaming streets in the privileged heart of the city.
    Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Dunn pointed out gleaming replicas of these artifacts, on display in the exhibition, alongside surfboards illustrating the evolution of the spot throughout history.
    Chloe Veltman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Middleton and Payne-Ferebee suggest adding layers of gold and copper shimmer to lighten the colors up while the sun is still beating down.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025
  • From dreamy fairy shimmer that feels perfect for date night, to sultry wine tones that look just right wrapped around a glass of merlot at Sunday dinner, these nails are setting the mood for the season.
    Essence, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Users can choose between two different brightness levels and adjust the angle of the light and the solar panel for customized preferences.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Govee has refined the software from previous models to improve the brightness and color accuracy, and the lights are more durable now.
    Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In Shasta County, near the geographic top of California, McArthur-Burney State Park is known for its picturesque waterfalls, with rainbows rising through the mist when the sun shines just right.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • By shining light onto molecules to analyze these vibrations, techniques such as infrared spectroscopy or Raman spectroscopy can identify these molecules.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Glacier Palace is a frozen wonderland of glittering ice tunnels, intricate sculptures, and even an ice slide.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Advertisement Advertisement A recent spate of darkly glittering comedies give us the opportunity to do just that.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Glinda Good Berry, on the other hand, is sweet without much of a distinctive flavor, though there’s maybe a twinkle of strawberry in the aftertaste.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
  • No one needs to convince a soul that Colman is one of the single best reasons to keep watching movies and TV today, and that her talent for lacing a twinkle with high degrees of thallium is damn near peerless.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Bake up a classic that has a little more pizazz than chocolate chip cookies with these soft and chewy Chocolate Chip Blondies.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The sauce is like a gravy with a little more pizzazz, and the cucumber goes really well.
    Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sparkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparkle. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sparkle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!