Synonyms for glimmer
ˈglɪm ərglim·mer

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. glimmernoun

   To shine with a faint light.

   The fireflies glimmered in the dark.

   Synonyms:
   shimmer, flicker

2. glimmernoun

   A flash of light.

   Synonyms:
   sparkle

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. glimmer

   Light, strictly denoting a form of radiant energy, is used as a general term for any luminous effect discernible by the eye, from the faintest phosphorescence to the blaze of the noonday sun. A flame is both hot and luminous; if it contains few solid particles it will yield little light, tho it may afford intense heat, as in the case of a hydrogen-flame. A blaze is an extensive, brilliant flame. A flare is a wavering flame or blaze; a flash is a light that appears and disappears in an instant; as, a flash of lightning; the flash of gunpowder. The glare and glow are steady, the glare painfully bright, the glow subdued; as, the glare of torches; the glow of dying embers. Shine and shining refer to a steady or continuous emission of light; sheen is a faint shining, usually by reflection. Glimmer, glitter, and shimmer denote wavering light. We speak of the glimmer of distant lamps through the mist; of the shimmer of waves in sunlight or moonlight. A gleam is not wavering, but transient or intermittent; a sudden gleam of light came through the half-open door; a glitter is a hard light; as, the glitter of burnished arms. A sparkle is a sudden light, as of sparks thrown out; scintillation is the more exact and scientific term for the actual emission of sparks, also the figurative term for what suggests such emission; as, scintillations of wit or of genius. Twinkle and twinkling are used of the intermittent light of the fixed stars. Glistening is a shining as from a wet surface. Illumination is a wide-spread, brilliant light, as when all the windows of a house or of a street are lighted. The light of incandescence is intense and white like that from metal at a white heat.

   Synonyms:
   blaze, flame, flare, flash, flicker, glare, gleam, gleaming, glistening, glistering, glitter, glow, illumination, incandescence, light, luster, scintillation, sheen, shimmer, shine, shining, sparkle, twinkle, twinkling

   Antonyms:
   blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, gloom, gloominess, obscurity, shade, shadow

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.5 / 4 votes

1. gleam, gleaming, glimmernoun

   a flash of light (especially reflected light)

   Synonyms:
   intimation, lambency, glimmering, gleaming, gleam, inkling, glow

2. inkling, intimation, glimmering, glimmerverb

   a slight suggestion or vague understanding

   "he had no inkling what was about to happen"

   Synonyms:
   intimation, glimmering, breath, gleaming, gleam, inkling, hint

3. gleam, glimmerverb

   shine brightly, like a star or a light

   Synonyms:
   gleam, glint, shine, glitter, glisten

Matched Categories

1. • Flash
   • Radiate

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. glimmerverb

   Synonyms:
   shine (faintly), gleam, glitter

2. glimmernoun

   Synonyms:
   gleam (of faint, unsteady light), ray, beam

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:3.0 / 2 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "glimmer":

   gleam, glow, ray, beacon, glimpse, spark, flicker, modicum, light, flash, blink, iight

How to pronounce glimmer?

How to say glimmer in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use glimmer in a sentence?

1. Gareth Bayley:

   Today we have a glimmer of hope, a slightest hope.

2. Ian Rintoul:

   The level of frustration on Manus Island is as high as it has ever been, the court action, while a glimmer of hope, is frustrating them as there has been no action despite detention being found to be unlawful.

3. Michael Hewson:

   It's a glimmer, and for now we're consolidating above $40 per barrel. But OPEC showed last week it's a paper tiger in that it won't do anything to prevent supply growth.

4. Kim Cochran:

   So we said no, leave him where he is at, but our family physician said,' If they give you a glimmer of hope, you take it. If he dies in transport, that's God's calling,' so we decided to let him be transported.

5. Thomas Lynch:

   The economic piece is really important to get a glimmer of hope for Afghanistan to move beyond a land-locked, poppy-based economy. We are now shooting that in the head.