shining 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshī-niŋ How to pronounce shining (audio)
Definition of shiningnext
as in glowing
giving off or reflecting much light the shining moon formed a nice backdrop for our outdoor concert

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shine
1
as in beaming
to emit rays of light the sun appears to shine particularly brightly in summer because that is when it's closest to the Earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polishing
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure the salesman shined his shoes every morning before leaving the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shining
Adjective
Eloise's shining moment comes in Quinn's To Sir Phillip, With Love, and follows her love story with Sir Phillip Crane—yes, that Phillip, who married his late brother's true love Marina Thompson. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026 Not far away are the Pleiades, a beautiful shining star cluster that resembles a tiny Big Dipper. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 28 Dec. 2025
Verb
There was a full moon out that night and the light behind him was shining directly behind his head. — Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026 Music City was shining a little brighter as country music royalty stepped out for a night of celebration. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shining
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shining
  1. glowing
  2. beaming
  3. polishing
  4. luminous
  5. gleaming
  6. rubbing
  7. dazzling
  8. radiating
Adjective
  • Set the scene The lobby is a vast, bubble-era set piece—soaring double-height ceilings gridded with geometric lights, warm wood paneling, and a glowing staircase.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid delivers hydration and keeps skin smooth and glowing, plus there’s niacinamide and licorice extract to brighten and even the complexion.
    — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of glowing
Verb
  • Despite a paywall, a graphic on the piece shows data centers in these outposts beaming valuable data to the Middle Kingdom, which, to the American government, is unacceptable.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In the black and white image, Parton is seeing beaming at the monarch.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of beaming
Verb
  • Some jobs that previously relied on hand craftsmanship but can now be automated made the top 10, including patternmakers and grinding and polishing workers.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis has spent the last decade successfully polishing its image without becoming a major global name.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of polishing
Adjective
  • To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Armani Beauty updated the formula for mature skin, infusing it with skincare ingredients that help to keep complexions luminous and plump during wear.
    — Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026
  • At the same time, the drops have suspended pigments that melt into the skin rather than sitting on top of it, creating a more even skin tone with a natural, slightly luminous finish.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of luminous
Verb
  • This is near the end of an extensive tour of the enormous, gleaming vessel.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Only guests in the larger rooms gain access to the rooftop, with its heated pool, and the Vault bar, arguably the highlight of the whole affair, cocooned among 3,000 gleaming safe deposit boxes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of gleaming
Verb
  • Rubbing Alcohol Head to the drug store for a bottle of 70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to clean windows.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The redyed fabrics showed uniform color uptake and washing and rubbing fastness comparable to the reference fabric, according to the study.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rubbing
Adjective
  • Williams and Alcaraz, who were both returning from injuries, wowed fans with dazzling rallies and impassioned play in an opening-round win before they were knocked out in the quarterfinals.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Two New York City icons shone a dazzling pink last night in honor of another icon, the great Dolly Parton, who died yesterday following a brief battle with cancer.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of dazzling
Verb
  • The map shows other towers close by, each radiating a string that is fastened to the map when other towers radio in readings.
    — Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The first breathtaking photos of totality for the total solar eclipse 2026 are pouring in, revealing incredible views of the sun's atmosphere radiating out from behind the moon's colossal silhouette.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of radiating

Browse Nearby Words

shininess
shining
shinned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shining. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All