glint 1 of 2

verb

ˈglint How to pronounce glint (audio)
Definition of glintnext
1
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light the cat's eyes glinted in the moonlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to glance
to take a quick or hasty look the thief glinted around the corner to see if anyone was coming

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

glint

2 of 2

noun

as in gleam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb glint contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of glint are flash, gleam, glimmer, glisten, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When is flash a more appropriate choice than glint?

The words flash and glint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When would gleam be a good substitute for glint?

The synonyms gleam and glint are sometimes interchangeable, but gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

Where would glimmer be a reasonable alternative to glint?

The meanings of glimmer and glint largely overlap; however, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

When might glisten be a better fit than glint?

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

glistening wet sidewalk

In what contexts can glitter take the place of glint?

While in some cases nearly identical to glint, glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When is it sensible to use shimmer instead of glint?

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

a shimmering satin dress

When could sparkle be used to replace glint?

In some situations, the words sparkle and glint are roughly equivalent. However, 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 glint
Verb
Something across the top of the burial seemed to glint in the sun. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025 This makes her performance—wry and sly and glinting differently from moment to moment—all the more exhilarating. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
Gyllenhaal, while sturdy enough with the language, achieves only intermittent glints of Iago’s venomous vitality. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2025 In the dark, the screen glints in Gary/Greg’s cold, dead eyes. —Dan Heching, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for glint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glint
  1. gleam
  2. glance
  3. glow
  4. flash
  5. peek
  6. glare
  7. glimpse
  8. glimmer
Verb
  • Less than two weeks after Luis Enrique’s appointment, the first team took up residence at the club’s gleaming new training centre, the PSG Campus, in Poissy, 25 kilometres west of central Paris.
    — Tom Williams, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The historic fantasy of the Great White Way as a glamorous montage of gleaming marquees, sparky backstage romances, and elegant audiences reveling in black tie was a Hollywood concoction, arguably false from the start.
    — Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • Whelan smiled and thanked her, then glanced at his phone.
    — Quinn Klinefelter, NPR, 10 Apr. 2025
  • After Fernando Redondo’s glancing header gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 61st minute, Miami were awarded a penalty kick after LAFC defender Marlon handled the ball in the 84th minute.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of glance
Noun
  • Millions of people in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and beyond were able to view the glow of the northern lights.
    — Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2025
  • From his early Neptunes days to his current reign as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director, he’s remained a masterclass in glow, grace, and reinvention.
    — Larry Stansbury, Essence, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of glow
Verb
  • The typically more boring corner of Wall Street has been flashing signals of stress this week that have been serious enough to demand attention from both Wall Street and President Trump.
    — Anne Marie Drummond Lee, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • With bond markets flashing warning signs while Americans sleep, investors risk missing a major shift.
    — Joel Shulman, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of flash
Verb
  • Then, to my astonishment, two slender blue-white streaks appeared, faintly at first, then slightly brighter, like a pair of angel wings peeking through some wondrous celestial realm.
    — Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Its original formula peeks in at the misbehavior of mostly white American characters set loose on vacation spots that allow for the display of modern-day colonialism — first Hawaii, then Italy, and now Thailand.
    — Armond White, National Review, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of peek
Noun
  • The six-inch display is recessed into the bezels, which helps to reduce glare.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025
  • This can be especially apparent if clouds or haze are dimming the sun enough to reduce the glare.
    — Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of glare
Verb
  • One way to glimpse the possible future of news, right now, is to use A.I. tools for yourself.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Part One, when she was glimpsed marching down the yellow brick road with the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion.
    — Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of glimpse
Noun
  • Kevin Lamarque | Reuters A glimmer of hope lingers, however, largely borne from Trump’s tendency to oscillate between more lenient and punitive positions.
    — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Democrats saw a glimmer of hope after achieving a significant upset victory in a GOP-leaning state Senate race in Pennsylvania last week.
    — Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of glimmer

Browse Nearby Words

glimpsing
glint
glinted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glint. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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