glistening

adjective

glis·​ten·​ing ˈgli-sᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce glistening (audio)
Synonyms of glisteningnext
: shining with reflected light
a damp, glistening surface
… a wonderland of glistening, shallow lakes of rainwater …Joseph Judge
The boatman was a tiny man with glistening brown skin and an almost circular mouth.Bruce Chatwin
… contrasting dark surfaces with glistening decorative details.Architectural Digest
Monroe County will always be unique because it is a collection of little tropical islands sprinkled across the glistening waters off the southern tip of the peninsula.George Laycock
glisteningly adverb
The cup across from her was icily clean, glisteningly empty. Sinclair Lewis

Examples of glistening in a Sentence

a glistening marble table top
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The simple gym room is equipped with an elliptical, a couple treadmills, and weight-lifting systems, all with views of a glistening tributary of the Cubango River that flows through the property. Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026 There are soaring layers of harmony vocals, a glistening 12-string-guitar part, driving drum fills that speed the song forward. Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026 As the doc’s creation Rocky (John Rivera), usually depicted as a glistening depiction of male beauty, appears here as a non-Adonis — a beefy, WWF-looking contender, in singlet and without a clue. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 Maybe someone will see my glistening red lips from the rescue plane! Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026 But while their forebears deconstructed rock conventions, HYPER GAL’s primary influence is the glistening textures of pop. Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026 The facade, designed by renown Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump and inspired by Blair, mixes glistening white metals and fiberglass with gold leaf accents that nod to the Eiffel Tower, Tower of Pisa, a Dutch windmill and more. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026 My colleagues, meanwhile, used forceps to pick glistening scale worms and peanut worms from the rocks. Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026 All of whom were mesmerized by her glistening skin and deeply sensual eyes, which often require nothing but black mascara. Essence, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glistening was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Glistening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glistening. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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