sparkle 1 of 2

verb

ˈspär-kəl How to pronounce sparkle (audio)
Definition of sparklenext
1
as in to glow
to give off sparks while fireworks that sparkle may be entertaining to look at, they can be highly dangerous when used indoors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light the crystal sparkled in the sunlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

sparkle

2 of 2

noun

1
as in shimmer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in brightness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb sparkle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sparkle are flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, and shimmer. While all these words mean "to send forth light," sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

Where would flash be a reasonable alternative to sparkle?

While the synonyms flash and sparkle are close in meaning, flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When might gleam be a better fit than sparkle?

Although the words gleam and sparkle have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When is glimmer a more appropriate choice than sparkle?

The words glimmer and sparkle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

In what contexts can glint take the place of sparkle?

In some situations, the words glint and sparkle are roughly equivalent. However, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When would glisten be a good substitute for sparkle?

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

glistening wet sidewalk

When can glitter be used instead of sparkle?

The words glitter and sparkle can be used in similar contexts, but glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When is it sensible to use shimmer instead of sparkle?

While in some cases nearly identical to sparkle, shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

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 sparkle
Verb
Her dress practically entered before her—an incredible, palest-possible-pink Schiaparelli gown with a strapless corset top and a structured satin peplum that balloons out into a truly magical, sparkling tulle skirt. —Marci Robin, Allure, 2 Mar. 2025 Demi Moore, nominated for her first Oscar for her leading role in The Substance, arrived in a shining silver dress, and many other A-listers and nominees were also sparkling. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
Crystals accenting mesh side panels added even more of a sparkle, like the actress' Pomellato Jewelry. —Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025 Dressed in a classic black tux with a white dress shirt and black bow tie, Alwyn added a pop of sparkle with a jeweled brooch pinned to his lapel. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sparkle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparkle
  1. glow
  2. gleam
  3. shimmer
  4. brightness
  5. shine
  6. glitter
  7. twinkle
  8. pizzazz
Verb
  • The information about the institute which has avoided the memory hole just sits there, though this makes some of it glow brighter.
    — Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Luckily, fake tanners is one of the best ways to get glowing quick, without any harm to your skin.
    — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of glow
Verb
  • From gleaming marble countertops to pristine wood flooring, even the slightest imperfections can impact a property’s value.
    — Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
  • At the Museum of Clocks, also in Chengdu, textural red brickwork alludes more to the area’s humble past than a gleaming future.
    — Oscar Holland, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • Also known as midnight candy, the blossoms of this perennial shimmer in the moonlight from midsummer through early fall.
    — Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Speaking of hair, Taraji P. Henson dipped her ends in bleach, which complimented the shimmer on her nails, lips and eyes.
    — India Espy-Jones, Essence, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of shimmer
Noun
  • Apple already tunes its IPS panels to draw more color coverage and brightness out of them than usual, so imagine what OLED could do married to the MacBook Air’s color coverage and its True Tone color-temperature-adjustment feature.
    — PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Mar. 2025
  • There's a lot of brightness, but there's a lot of darkness.
    — Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of brightness
Verb
  • The full moon was seen shining its crimson light over the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Open through Sunday, the three-floor immersive experience brings fans through the card-collecting world, creating both a way to shine a spotlight on stars such as Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui and educating how Topps has built its passionate baseball card-collecting community.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of shine
Verb
  • In a recent photoshoot, Willis, 36, slipped into the glittering gold bikini that Moore famously wore in the 1996 film Striptease.
    — Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Hours earlier, a glittering guest list of 300 had gathered for the inaugural Le Grand Dîner du Louvre, a first-of-its-kind black-tie affair held inside the world’s most famous museum.
    — Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of glitter
Noun
  • These twinkle lights, on sale for $18.99 from Amazon, can be combined and have a timer function.
    — Nora Colomer, Fox News, 5 Dec. 2024
  • He’s always got a twinkle in his eye during sketches and makes everyone around him have more fun.
    — Andy Hoglund, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of twinkle
Noun
  • The loud bag added a bit of pizzazz to a neutral look without going overboard.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Relish? More than one Southern chef mentioned cranberry relish, which looks a lot like homemade cranberry sauce with a little extra pizzazz.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2024
Definition of pizzazz

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Cite this Entry

“Sparkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparkle. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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