flickerings
Unsteady light movements
Flickerings are instances of unsteady light or movement—the quick, irregular brightening and dimming of flames, candles, or failing bulbs.
The word captures repeated fluctuation: the flickerings of firelight on the cave wall.
It extends to anything that appears and fades intermittently: flickerings of hope, flickerings of consciousness.
Eyelid opening and closing
- flutteringLight, rapid movement
- twitchingInvoluntary muscular contractions
- rapid movementQuick locomotion or action
- drowsinessState of near-sleep
fatigue · REM · sleepiness · wakefulness · consciousness · semiconsciousness · batting · tremulous
Shaking slightly and rapidly
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- flutteringLight, rapid movement
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- oscillatingSwinging back and forth
vibrating · shuddering · pulsing · twitching · rippling · dancing · undulating · shimmering
Brief intense light bursts
- glimmersFeeble, wavering lights
- twinklesShines with flickering light
- glintsBrief reflected flashes
- shimmersGleams with wavering light
sparkles · gleams · candle flames · firelight · lanterns · embers · starlight · luminescence
Initial faint movements
- glimmersFeeble, wavering lights
- hintsIndirect suggestions
- tracesSlight remaining amounts
- sparksFiery particles from friction
pangs · twinges · whispers · shadows · doubts · hopes · fears · desires
Without motion or change
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- strobingPulsing light effect
- power surgesSudden electrical overvoltage events
- faulty wiringDefective electrical system
blinking
Eyelid opening and closing
- flutteringLight, rapid movement
- twitchingInvoluntary muscular contractions
- rapid movementQuick locomotion or action
drowsiness · fatigue · REM · sleepiness · wakefulness · consciousness · semiconsciousness · batting · tremulous · half-closed
quivering
Shaking slightly and rapidly
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- flutteringLight, rapid movement
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
oscillating · vibrating · shuddering · pulsing · twitching · rippling · dancing · undulating · shimmering · quavering
flashes
Brief intense light bursts
shimmers · sparkles · gleams · candle flames · firelight · lanterns · embers · starlight · luminescence · reflections
stirrings
Initial faint movements
sparks · pangs · twinges · whispers · shadows · doubts · hopes · fears · desires · memories
static
Without motion or change
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- strobingPulsing light effect
- power surgesSudden electrical overvoltage events
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- fluctuationsfluctuations, oscillations, variations, swings, waves
- flickering lightsIllumination that stutters
- flickering flame
- flickering images