GLITTER Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'glitter' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glitter are flash , gleam , glimmer , glint , glisten , shimmer , and sparkle . While all these words mean "to send forth light," glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming. // glittering diamonds

Q: When might 'flash' be a better fit than 'glitter'?

The synonyms flash and glitter are sometimes interchangeable, but flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light. // lightning flashed

Q: Where would 'gleam' be a reasonable alternative to 'glitter'?

The words gleam and glitter 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

Q: When would 'glimmer' be a good substitute for 'glitter'?

In some situations, the words glimmer and glitter are roughly equivalent. However, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam. // a distant glimmering light

Q: In what contexts can 'glint' take the place of 'glitter'?

The meanings of glint and glitter largely overlap; however, glint implies a cold glancing light. // glinting steel

Q: When is it sensible to use 'glisten' instead of 'glitter'?

Although the words glisten and glitter have much in common, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface. // glistening wet sidewalk

Q: When can 'shimmer' be used instead of 'glitter'?

While the synonyms shimmer and glitter are close in meaning, shimmer means shining with a wavering light. // a shimmering satin dress

Q: When is 'sparkle' a more appropriate choice than 'glitter'?

The words sparkle and glitter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light. // the sparkling waters

glitter 1 of 2

verb

ˈgli-tər

Definition of glitter next

as in to gleam

to shoot forth bursts of light the queen's crown glittered under the glare of the TV lights

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

glitter

2 of 2

noun

as in shimmer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in gilt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb glitter contrast with its synonyms?

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

glittering diamonds

When might flash be a better fit than glitter?

The synonyms flash and glitter are sometimes interchangeable, but flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

Where would gleam be a reasonable alternative to glitter?

The words gleam and glitter 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 would glimmer be a good substitute for glitter?

In some situations, the words glimmer and glitter are roughly equivalent. However, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

In what contexts can glint take the place of glitter?

The meanings of glint and glitter largely overlap; however, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When is it sensible to use glisten instead of glitter?

Although the words glisten and glitter have much in common, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

When can shimmer be used instead of glitter?

While the synonyms shimmer and glitter are close in meaning, shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

When is sparkle a more appropriate choice than glitter?

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

the sparkling waters

Examples 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 glitter

Verb

Murphy is now closing in on 200 senior appearances for Newcastle which isn’t bad, all things considered, and the last blissful month has only served to reinforce an old truism that the best teams are not always formed of the players who glitter most. —

George Caulkin, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025 Brody has walked the runway for Prada and has a debonair penchant for wearing large glittering brooches on his tuxedo lapel on red carpets. —

Wendell Steavenson, Vogue, 5 Jan. 2025

Noun

These gold glitter speckles give that instant glamorous, party feel, while looking elegant and tasteful. —

Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024 And of course, nothing goes better with a bottle of Champagne (or a pair of sweats) than lots and lots of glitter. —

Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for glitter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for glitter

Verb

The buckle comes in a gleaming silver for a subtle glinty touch.

Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 7 Jan. 2025
On the track, the 6 God gets introspective about the trials and tribulations of his 2024 over Conductor’s gleaming production, and seemingly blasts those who switched sides on him throughout the Kendrick Lamar feud.

Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Jan. 2025