flickery
Like a candle
Flickery describes light or images that flicker—unsteady, wavering, rapidly alternating between bright and dim.
A flickery candle gutters in the wind.
Old films have a flickery quality from imperfect projection.
The word suggests instability or impermanence: The flickery glow of the dying campfire cast long shadows.
Tremulous, wavering light
- glimmerFaint, wavering light
- twinkleShine with flickering light
- sparkleEmit flashing light
- glintBrief bright reflection
strobe · flashing · blinking · pulsing · stuttering · sputtering · guttering · candlelight
Trembling or unstable
- unsteadyLacking balance or stability
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- quiveringShaking slightly and rapidly
jittery · twitchy · jerky · erratic · intermittent · stuttering · faltering · sputtering
Slow to act
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
unsure · tentative · iffy · unpredictable · unreliable · inconsistent · on-and-off · touch-and-go
Passing very quickly
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- briefShort in duration
- passingMoving by or temporary
evanescent · short-lived · vanishing · fading · dying · guttering · waning · dissipating
shimmer
Tremulous, wavering light
glint · strobe · flashing · blinking · pulsing · stuttering · sputtering · guttering · candlelight · firelight
shaky
Trembling or unstable
- unsteadyLacking balance or stability
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
quivering · jittery · twitchy · jerky · erratic · intermittent · stuttering · faltering · sputtering · inconsistent
hesitant
Slow to act
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
doubtful · unsure · tentative · iffy · unpredictable · unreliable · inconsistent · on-and-off · touch-and-go
fleeting
Passing very quickly
passing · evanescent · short-lived · vanishing · fading · dying · guttering · waning · dissipating · impermanent
flickerysteady
Fixed, not fluctuating
constant · stable · unchanging · invariable · unvarying
- flickering lightsIllumination that stutters
- flickering flame
- flickering images
- screen flickerRapid visual pulsing on monitors
- forked tongue flicker
- flea flickerMisdirection gridiron maneuver
flicker, flickering, flickered, flickers, flickeringly, unflickering