twinkling 1 of 3

noun

ˈtwiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce twinkling (audio)
Definition of twinklingnext
as in minute
a very small space of time in a twinkling, the rabbit had disappeared

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

twinkling

2 of 3

adjective

as in gleaming

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

twinkling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of twinkle
1
as in flashing
to shine with light at regular intervals holiday decorations twinkled in the shop windows

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in glinting
to shoot forth bursts of light stars twinkling on a crisp September night

Synonyms & Similar 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 twinkling
Verb
Vaccarello’s all-gold spring 2027 show — the collection marching under three monumental chandeliers and in the shadow of a twinkling Eiffel Tower — felt like a swan song, official or not. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026 When Waits sings about the woman’s raincoat and suitcase, Duke answers with a twinkling tumble of notes. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026 The scene is a sensory one, with layered cowhide rugs, leather armchairs, a wood-burning fire, and twinkling chandeliers that were original to the Pulitzers’ home. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 But the scenes of Roy using household objects to relay the action of the game (accompanied by twinkling music) push Keeley beyond the limits of eccentricity. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026 The following two pictures provided close up glimpses at her twinkling halo engagement ring. — Michael Nied, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026 The stage for Sheeran’s tour has a glittering circular screen set into its center, twinkling like a ring light. — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026 And this image has no shortage of suns, with twinkling stars speckling the entire cosmic landscape, diffraction spikes and all. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026 His pencil mustache, his fastidious gestures, and his twinkling eyes are at least as famous as his drinks. — Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twinkling
  1. minute
  2. gleaming
  3. flashing
  4. glinting
  5. heartbeat
  6. glistening
  7. flickering
  8. glittering
Noun
  • Over the record’s 33 minutes, Holden delivers an outstanding addition to his catalog that’s as absorbing and realist as any rap album this year.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The nearly six-minute film shows how the team combines precision machining, assembly, and repair to accelerate robot development.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of minute
Adjective
  • Under his meticulous care, the gleaming red sports car has been souped up to generate 400-horsepower turbo performance, but retains much of the original features and feel.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The trailer features stunning images of the massive gleaming white cube that was the centerpiece of the staging and Instagram-worthy shots of the pryo and special effects that made the tour a must-see for fans.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Dec. 2025
Definition of gleaming
Verb
  • At the same time, France’s looming debt has sent bond yields to the highest levels in 24 years, flashing warning signs not seen since the eurozone debt crisis in 2011.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Despite credit markets flashing warnings, equity holders essentially just stood there.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of flashing
Verb
  • Animals started tracking across the plain, their eyes glinting in the flashlights Cordova and Heimann swept back and forth.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The placement feels resonant, since Boorman was always operating between poles of glinting victory and laughable failure.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of glinting
Noun
  • Focusing on something introspective, such as breath, heartbeat or a growing and shrinking dot, can induce a near-hypnotic state that clears the mind.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Focusing on something introspective, like your breath, your heartbeat or a growing and shrinking dot, can induce an almost hypnotic state that clears the mind.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of heartbeat
Adjective
  • But many of the film’s most evocative images, often involving groups of soldiers, handsome and glistening and in varying stages of undress, remain just that — images without a strong connection to the larger storytelling.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Frank O’Hara, with each glistening torso, never fails to tell you something true.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of glistening
Verb
  • When the lights began flickering on, guests took the cue that the festivities had come to an end.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2026
  • With the flash of red taillights flickering outside of the stadium, a sign of fans already heading for the exits, the Dodgers went down in order to end the game.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of flickering
Verb
  • This is a city full of glittering theater marquees and mint midcentury signage, and ringed with rail yards and the scars of an industrial center remade for human scale.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • During the talk, Bardem reflected on a glittering career, from his early life growing up in one of Spain’s most prestigious acting families to winning an Oscar and, this year, finally conquering his fear of the stage.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of glittering

Browse Nearby Words

twinkles
twinkling
twinklings
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Cite this Entry

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

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