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shimmer

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb shimmer contrast with its synonyms?

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

a shimmering satin dress

When is it sensible to use flash instead of shimmer?

The meanings of flash and shimmer largely overlap; however, flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When can gleam be used instead of shimmer?

While in some cases nearly identical to shimmer, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When could glimmer be used to replace shimmer?

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

a distant glimmering light

Where would glint be a reasonable alternative to shimmer?

The words glint and shimmer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

In what contexts can glisten take the place of shimmer?

The words glisten and shimmer can be used in similar contexts, but glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

When might glitter be a better fit than shimmer?

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

glittering diamonds

When would sparkle be a good substitute for shimmer?

Although the words sparkle and shimmer have much in common, 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 shimmer
Verb
Guests can stroll through a shimmering oval park adorned with giant color-changing trees, experience the charm of recreated snowfall, and explore Santa’s Castle. Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 17 Dec. 2024 Progress comes with a learning curve Morning rays shimmered off the Inner Harbor and the tall glass facade of the Maryland Science Center. Alisha Camacho, Baltimore Sun, 28 Dec. 2024
Noun
But, like her lids, it's got a perfect touch of shimmer—or glaze, rather. Marci Robin, Allure, 26 Dec. 2024 The 35-mile-long sea shimmers, a cascade of colors in the desert, when the sun sets over the Santa Rosa Mountains. Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shimmer 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shimmer
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
Noun
  • Strolling along the park’s paths, which are much quieter in the winter months, visitors will encounter powerful works depicting human emotions and relationships, framed by the soft glow of winter light.
    David Nikel, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
  • With the flash used by the photographer, the crab looks to be standing at center stage, in the glow of a spotlight.
    Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As the glittering parade of stars walked the red carpet to kick off awards season at Monday’s Golden Globes, all eyes were on Zendaya.
    Kate Matthams, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Gomez accessorized the look with glittering jewelry pieces courtesy of Tiffany & Co.
    Julia Teti, WWD, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The panel is an ultra-low glare design, too, thanks to premium low-reflection technology, and supports wider viewing angles than regular LCD models.
    John Archer, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • This image's fiery glare, eyes swirled in their galactic arms, is a combination of mixed-spectrum captures using the James Webb Space Telescope for mid-infrared light, and the Hubble Space Telescope for visible and ultraviolet light.
    Space.com Staff, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Hamels, Lester and Price sparkled in the World Series.
    Tyler Kepner, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • With this final step, your appliance should be sparkling.
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Jonathan Van Ness Jonathan Van Ness brought a metallic sheen to the 2025 Golden Globes after party hosted by UTA.
    Julia Teti, WWD, 6 Jan. 2025
  • But, like workers shedding the new year festivities and glumly marching back to the office, stocks lost their sheen, began tilting down and closed the session lower.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • If your submission is correct, the terms will flash in the category color and will be removed from the board.
    Billie Schwab Dunn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
  • The 30-year-old suspect flashed a gun and demanded to be let into the victim’s work truck, and that’s when things started to go wrong, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in an affidavit.
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Daphne Guinness—in a blazer from McGirr’s first McQueen collection scattered with glinting jet stone—picks her way through the TikTokers and ring lights to breathlessly invite McGirr to dissect her collection of Victoriana, just as Lee did in the noughties.
    Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Disco balls — while not nearly a new phenomenon — took on new life in the form of earrings, jumpsuits, and even full helmets, casting the entire campground in glinting lights.
    Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 16 June 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near shimmer

Cite this Entry

“Shimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shimmer. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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