SPARKLES Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

sparkles 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sparkle

as in glows

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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as in gleams

to shoot forth bursts of light the crystal sparkled in the sunlight

Synonyms & Similar Words

sparkles

2 of 2

noun

plural of sparkle

as in shimmers

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 sparkles

Verb

The Tanana River in the background is flowing high, and most of the area between the river and the Bluff sparkles as sun rays glisten on the thousands of small pools and ponds that fill every dip and crevice in the land surface. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 The repartee sparkles; the farcical touches lighten the tone. — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Even when Monét isn’t being quite as playful as on past releases, her personality sparkles brighter than her esteemed guests. — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026 Parton turned extravagant blonde wigs, elaborate makeup, high heels, and sparkles into one of the most recognizable looks in entertainment. — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The pearl-white sand is powdery soft, and the crystal-clear water literally sparkles in the sun. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026 With a glorious mane of glowing purple gas and dust, the Lion Nebula sparkles on the cosmic savanna in this new image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026 This episode sparkles in part thanks to guest stars like Seth Rogen, Fred Savage, and even Fox executive Peter Chernin being willing to poke fun at themselves. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026 Shakira sparkles during her World Cup halftime show performance in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparkles

Verb

Between the two telescopes, the blue and red Trifid Nebula glows to the left of the larger and redder Lagoon Nebula, all within the Sagittarius constellation.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Show Caption 1 of 43 A Chicago Bears digital billboard glows at sunrise just off of Route 53 at the former Arlington International Racecourse on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of glows

Verb

Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.

— Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.

— Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025

Definition of gleams

Noun

The cups on display, with sleek forms and graphic twinkles, immediately felt relatable yet also transcendent, the boundary between life and art blissfully obliterated.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
And Georges delivers—come for the smart, international menu and panoramic views over Paris (especially appealing at night, when the Eiffel Tower twinkles with light).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of twinkles

Verb

Nothing sparks joy and jumpstarts the Christmas season like a food advent calendar.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
This one, steeped in milk and cream, sparks off the roof of your mouth with a gentle chile burn and the pleasantly numbing zap of cloves.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparks

Noun

Where casting shines is in quickly dipping into an app without reaching for your phone and unlocking it, like updating a payment in the settlement app Splitwise or sending a quick message in WhatsApp.

— Dominic Preston, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
That’s when the islands’ lush beauty shines, except for occasional afternoon showers.

— Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of shines

Verb

This option from Vantamo flashes a bright light and emits a 130-decibel sound from dual speakers whenever the top pin is pulled, alerting passersby of the emergency and scaring off potential assailants.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026
The show then flashes forward to the other women emotionally processing the news of his overdose and coming together at Angie’s to console one another and share memories of Robert.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of flashes

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sparkled

sparkles

sparkling

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“Sparkles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparkles. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sparkles

verb

noun

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