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glimmer

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb glimmer contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glimmer are flash, gleam, glint, glisten, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

Where would flash be a reasonable alternative to glimmer?

In some situations, the words flash and glimmer are roughly equivalent. However, flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When could gleam be used to replace glimmer?

The words gleam and glimmer can be used in similar contexts, but gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When is it sensible to use glint instead of glimmer?

The synonyms glint and glimmer are sometimes interchangeable, but glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

In what contexts can glisten take the place of glimmer?

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

glistening wet sidewalk

When is glitter a more appropriate choice than glimmer?

While the synonyms glitter and glimmer are close in meaning, glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When would shimmer be a good substitute for glimmer?

Although the words shimmer and glimmer have much in common, shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

When can sparkle be used instead of glimmer?

The words sparkle and glimmer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

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 glimmer
Noun
Dave Dombrowski is clinging to any glimmer of hope Romano can be serviceable to justify signing him, but there's no remaining hope for him. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025 Servillo is such a sly actor, and the director showcases his deadpan performance with such slow-build curiosity, that the film is always cueing us to read his mind, to see the glimmers of thought and soul behind the façade. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
For decades, girls have flocked to Camp Mystic to spend their summer days canoeing and fishing the Guadalupe River before retreating to bunk beds in rustic cabins just steps from the glimmering water. New York Times, 10 July 2025 At the shoulder and near the cutout sections were glimmering jewel embellishments that accentuated the fabric. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for glimmer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glimmer
Noun
  • Meanwhile, glitter shadow spilled under her eyes, filling in her waterline next to a brown eyeliner with hints of gold.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Crafted Flatzz are available in five different artisanal recipes, according to Pizza Hut, including a Three Cheese Flatzz that is layered with sweet marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, Romano and a hint of oregano.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Missouri State, which was an FCS team before this season, squeaked out a field goal in its first drive of the game and had the confidence to attempt a reverse flea flicker on its next possession, but USC’s defense sniffed out the play and pushed the Bears back 11 yards.
    Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Evans’ film sounds hopeless but isn’t and doesn’t abandon Danny, even if his hope is barely a flicker and never a flame.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Marble floors gleamed beneath towering columns, and the chandeliers cast a warm, golden light.
    Maggie Downs, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Megan Moroney, Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow brought the shine to their section in their gleaming ensembles.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Brushed with mayonnaise, the cobs develop a rich and smoky flavor from the grill while a sprinkling of cotija cheese adds a touch of tanginess.
    SAVEUR Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
  • It’s finished with a generous sprinkling of salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
    Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Moored on the shimmering curve of the South Bank, Sea Containers is London’s answer to maritime maximalism—an all-day, all-night glam escape where ocean liner nostalgia gets a high-gloss, high-style reboot.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The woman, who goes by Madi online, shared the clip, to her TikTok account @tiktakmadi on Friday, showing a thin layer of white clouds in the sky, revealing the shimmering skyscrapers, reflecting the pink light of the sunrise above the iconic city.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Destroyed in one second by my mother, its shreds tossed into the garbage can under the sink.
    Miriam Toews September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • But shreds of the original were repurposed and reimagined into a new statement.
    Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If a fan’s only window into football analytics is a contextless statistic that flashes on the screen, though, then they might be justified in thinking data was useless.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Warning signs have been flashing for months that the job market has been losing steam.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Right now, the studio seems focused on delivering quality, memorable, and creative games that people want to play not just because of the brand name splash screen that will appear before the main menu.
    David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • And the American redstart — a jetblack little fellow with orange splashes — pretty much stopped breeding here in the early 2000s.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Glimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glimmer. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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