twinkling 1 of 3

noun

ˈtwiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce twinkling (audio)
Definition of twinklingnext
as in minute
a very small space of time in a twinkling, the rabbit had disappeared

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

twinkling

2 of 3

adjective

as in gleaming

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

twinkling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of twinkle
1
as in flashing
to shine with light at regular intervals holiday decorations twinkled in the shop windows

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in glinting
to shoot forth bursts of light stars twinkling on a crisp September night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 twinkling
Verb
In December, wreaths and twinkling lights transform the inn into a New England fantasy. — Air Mail, 4 July 2026 As the firework began to wane after well over a minute, zigzagging streaks of light spread into a canopy of twinkling flashes that resembled stars. — Sacbee.com, 28 June 2026 The collection features shades of purple and lavender, symbolizing the signature twilight sky after the sun sets on those long summer days at the park and the fireworks begin, twinkling like pixie dust above the castle. — Tiffany Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026 As the plane made its descent, he was struck by the sight of hundreds of swimming pools twinkling blue in the sunshine. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 20 June 2026 With their tiny, twinkling lights, fireflies are icons of a Georgia summer night. — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 6 June 2026 The Danish band’s newfound brightness is apparent from the start, as the album opens with twinkling glockespiel. — Brendan Hay, SPIN, 2 June 2026 This twinkling turquoise-and-peach set looks like a treasure waiting to be discovered at the bottom of the ocean. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 May 2026 Each year, the plaza at Lincoln Center goes through a vernal transformation, its formal granite parterre converted to a busy dance floor with twinkling lights, part of the center’s Summer for the City programming. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twinkling
  1. minute
  2. gleaming
  3. flashing
  4. glinting
  5. heartbeat
  6. glistening
  7. flickering
  8. glittering
Noun
  • Croix Bethune scored a one-touch equalizer in the 52nd minute and Temwa Chawinga put the hosts ahead of the San Diego Wave with a strike in the 61st.
    — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • This wasn’t just a case of a team scoring a last-minute winner, though.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 18 July 2026
Definition of minute
Adjective
  • Under his meticulous care, the gleaming red sports car has been souped up to generate 400-horsepower turbo performance, but retains much of the original features and feel.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The trailer features stunning images of the massive gleaming white cube that was the centerpiece of the staging and Instagram-worthy shots of the pryo and special effects that made the tour a must-see for fans.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Dec. 2025
Definition of gleaming
Verb
  • An important index for chip stocks is flashing a technical warning sign, possibly signaling a drawdown of as much as 17%, according to investment bank BTIG.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 10 July 2026
  • Tipping my hat to whoever’s responsible for the shot of Sugar checking behind his back, into the darkness as the greenish-white glow of the computer screen reflects in his eyes, giving the impression of those turquoise alien eyes flashing in fear.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of flashing
Verb
  • In their gowns and bowties, guests giddily slurp mounds of glinting caviar off the back of their hand.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 June 2026
  • No one wanted to stand behind the commanding warriors, draped in blankets and furs, brass hoops in their earlobes, medals and wampum on their strong chests, silver armbands glinting in the light.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
Definition of glinting
Noun
  • It can be treated effectively with antibiotics, particularly when caught early, but can cause longer-term problems including arthritis, severe headaches and irregular heartbeat if not.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Fery, a virtually unknown British wild card with a triple-digit ranking, has become the emotional heartbeat of Wimbledon while legitimately diverting some national attention from England’s World Cup quest.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of heartbeat
Adjective
  • The horses splashed fetlocks through the mud and water stood in little pools all about the desert, glistening ripples of silver in the blustery gusts of wind.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 July 2026
  • The base is a matte cat-eye, but the whole design is finished with a shiny top coat for a glistening melted-Popsicle effect.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 July 2026
Definition of glistening
Verb
  • Approximately the size of a dining-room table, the canvas has fifteen people distributed along a set of stairs in front of a mosque, all of them flickering with very different kinds of life.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • Preclinical work and a feasibility study found that flickering light and sound at 40 Hz for an hour a day had potential to slow cognitive decline and volume loss in parts of the brain critical for memory.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
Definition of flickering
Verb
  • Nestled along the banks of the Brazos River, Granbury is an idyllic lakeside town where quaint coffee shops and a historic City Hall building overlook glittering water and lush green trees.
    — Emily Holshouser July 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • David Ramos / Getty Images Spain is headed to Sunday’s World Cup final after shutting down France’s glittering array of attacking talent, crushing the tournament favorites 2-0 in Texas.
    — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 15 July 2026
Definition of glittering

Browse Nearby Words

twinkles
twinkling
twinklings
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Cite this Entry

“Twinkling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twinkling. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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