1
as in glows
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
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2
as in gleams
to shoot forth bursts of light
the crystal sparkled in the sunlight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sparkles
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Isabelle Huppert sparkles in sequins at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony in France on May 23.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
San Diego theater veteran Andréa Agosto sparkles as the kind but determined Aziza.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
Her silver nail polish—reminiscent of the shade worn by Lou Reed (from one New York legend to another) in footage shown during Todd Haynes’s documentary The Velvet Underground—sparkles as Gaga pounds the keys of her piano throughout the film.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
On this campus tour, Kirkland showed off the three-year-old football stadium that sparkles, and the new baseball and softball diamonds nearby.
—Joe Davidson
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
The lobby’s long chandelier sparkles above low-rise velvet chairs, and Frank Stella and other large-scale artworks punctuate every corner.
—Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
On the lighter end of the dark comedy spectrum, Ruthless People is an utter joy from beginning to end, a mid-80s classic that still sparkles today.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
As the crowd continues to cheer, the light from the Al Hirschfield Theatre stage door sparkles off of the phones stretched out to catch even a glimpse of the Houston hottie.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
As its name suggests, this pool is nestled in a canyon above UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium, where its blue water sparkles amid the green forest.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Isabelle Huppert sparkles in sequins at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony in France on May 23.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
San Diego theater veteran Andréa Agosto sparkles as the kind but determined Aziza.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
Her silver nail polish—reminiscent of the shade worn by Lou Reed (from one New York legend to another) in footage shown during Todd Haynes’s documentary The Velvet Underground—sparkles as Gaga pounds the keys of her piano throughout the film.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
On this campus tour, Kirkland showed off the three-year-old football stadium that sparkles, and the new baseball and softball diamonds nearby.
—Joe Davidson
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
The lobby’s long chandelier sparkles above low-rise velvet chairs, and Frank Stella and other large-scale artworks punctuate every corner.
—Carrie Honaker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
On the lighter end of the dark comedy spectrum, Ruthless People is an utter joy from beginning to end, a mid-80s classic that still sparkles today.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
As the crowd continues to cheer, the light from the Al Hirschfield Theatre stage door sparkles off of the phones stretched out to catch even a glimpse of the Houston hottie.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparkles
Verb
-
The rich color palette brings warmth and depth, while the fluid scarf silhouette adds an effortless elegance that practically glows on the dance floor.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
30 May 2026
-
In Los Angeles, Jennifer Lopez glows in a green gown at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, while Jean Smart and Kaitlin Olson are a couple of cutie costars at the Hacks Season 5 FYC Event.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Brith, who is ahead and in charge, is taking as her guide the stream, which sparks in the sunlight, cutting a narrow channel through the hillside, weaving itself around rocks and tree trunks, appearing and disappearing, diving underground then springing up in unexpected places.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Our mission is to create bold, cinematic film and television that challenges perception, sparks conversation, and leaves a lasting emotional imprint.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Bella Hadid shimmers in another look at the Hotel Martinez during the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 20.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Each new hill brings a slightly different and powerful view of Martinez and its petroleum refinery infrastructure; farther in the horizon, like a mirage of an ivory city, shimmers a wind-turbine farm.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
In the evening, the whole place twinkles from the lights of a hundred lanterns and flares, which also serve to keep away mosquitoes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
But, there will be progress, if not twinkles of excitement.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the film shines a light on the underrecognized effort to gather weather data, the importance of paying attention to what the evidence showed, and the very little that separated success and defeat that day.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
-
Your generous spirit shines brighter with boundaries that keep your offerings sustainable.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Geena Davis glitters in a red gown at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony in France on May 23.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
David Duchovny flashes a smile onstage at the X-Files cast reunion panel at the 2026 Fan Expo in Denver on May 29.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
-
The front of the doorbell features a camera, a doorbell call button with an LED ring that flashes blue when someone rings, an ambient light sensor, two infrared LEDs for night vision, a microphone, and a removable faceplate.—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparkles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparkles. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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