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

The crowd was glitzy—Goyard bags strewn over orange day-bed mattresses, Rolexes glinting—but at ease and not partying wildly like those further down the beach. — Nick Remsen, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2026 The air is perfectly warm, the sunshine glints on the water, happy people pass by and wave. — Kristy Woodson Harvey, Southern Living, 18 July 2026

Noun

Steve Gleason, co-founder of Crowfoot Range and a member of the Avimor neighborhood watch, was the first to point out the glint of a pickup truck on the far hill. — Noah Daly august 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026 This glowing take on guava nails features green polish with a pink cat-eye glint. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for glint

Recent Examples of Synonyms for glint

Verb

Sharing the rooftop with Watr, the pool setting is enchanting, surrounded by gleaming high-rises and overlooking the lake.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
Most were gleaming white and conventionally extravagant, with black privacy glass and chrome railings and layers of decks.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of gleam

Verb

As Grace and Todd approach the president’s limo, a small spark can be seen glancing off of the front of the car.

— Adam B. Vary, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Ambrossi can’t sit still, and has left his hotel to speed-walk through the city, speaking rapidly and barely glancing at his phone screen.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of glance

Noun

The concealer, which comes in 25 shades, goes on top to add a subtle glow that plays up the color of the eyes.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026
While the planets in our solar system are still visible, sky glow obscures more distant objects, such as fainter stars.

— Chris McMullen, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of glow

Verb

But when the sun peeked out, Michael’s dad Lee Phillips decided to pump up the pumpkin, complete with its classic black triangular eyes and a lopsided grin.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Some of these hunters spend hours in hopes of spotting a miniature ceramic smiley face peeking out of a crevice.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of peek

Noun

The glare cast by the 74%-lit waxing gibbous moon will hide fainter shooting stars for much of the night.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026
He was constantly interrupted by phone calls, the glare of television lights and accepted his good wishes of his friends across the country.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of glare

Noun

Curt Cignetti has not just provided a championship mindset for the passionate fans that were sitting through days of blowouts and small glimmers of hope in past years.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Still, Crow—the ever-optimist, as her body of work proves—clings on to the glimmers of hope from leaders of the world who do show us the best parts of humanity.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of glimmer

Noun

But the brand’s shimmer has worn off over the decades, first under Ford and then under India’s Tata Motors, which bought Jaguar Land Rover in 2008.

— Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
The shimmer of the dress was complemented by Johnson’s jewelry pieces, which included earrings, a ring and necklace courtesy of Roberto Coin, for whom Johnson serves as a global brand ambassador.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of shimmer

Browse Nearby Words

glimpsing

glint

glinted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Glint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glint. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of glint

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes