GLINT Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

glint 1 of 2

verb

ˈglint

Definition of glint

as in to gleam

to shoot forth bursts of light the cat's eyes glinted in the moonlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

In their gowns and bowties, guests giddily slurp mounds of glinting caviar off the back of their hand. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 June 2026 No one wanted to stand behind the commanding warriors, draped in blankets and furs, brass hoops in their earlobes, medals and wampum on their strong chests, silver armbands glinting in the light. — Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Noun

They were joined by a growing number of international rescue teams who began to climb through the rubble, offering a small glint of hope to anguished families. — Regina Cano Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026 They were joined by a growing number of international rescue teams who began to climb through the ruins, offering a glint of hope to anguished families. — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for glint

Recent Examples of Synonyms for glint

Verb

Among the rows of gleaming cars was a 1972 Chevy El Camino in Aztec gold, shown by owner Bob Barnes of Highland Park.

— Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
In front of the Jabara family, the turquoise waters of Torch Lake gleamed alluringly in the July heat.

— Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of gleam

Noun

Place it atop a credenza to create a diffused glow throughout the room in lieu of harsh overhead lighting.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Overnight, the foundation became a staple among makeup artists and beauty lovers worldwide, thanks to its second-skin finish and lit-from-within glow.

— Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of glow

Noun

In living rooms, televisions are often placed in locations where ambient light from the windows can cause visible glare.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026
The concept is basically like a solar eclipse; a coronagraph blocks out the glare of a star such that anything around that star can come into focus.

— Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of glare

Verb

The telescope may even be able to glimpse light reflecting off the tops of clouds on these planets.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
In 2022, the orbital space telescope even glimpsed the most luminous eruption ever seen—a gamma ray burst dubbed the BOAT (Brightest of all Time).

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of glimpse

Noun

The polls offer a glimmer of hope for Democrats and their voters, who hope that the party can shrink the Republican majority in Congress – or capture it – this midterm season.

— Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
While more muted in color than her later looks, the outfit shows an early glimmer of her future full-on sparkle.

— Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of glimmer

Noun

The cat-eye effect catches the light with a subtle, tasteful shimmer, coupled with some clear 3D accents for depth.

— Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 21 Aug. 2026
Rounding out the new offerings is a LV Baume that is meant to add a holographic shimmer to the lips, either over an existing product or shining on its own.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of shimmer

Browse Nearby Words

glimpsing

glint

glinted

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“Glint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glint. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of glint

verb

noun

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