glossy
Opposite of matte
Glossy describes surfaces that are smooth and shiny, reflecting light with a polished appearance: glossy hair, glossy paint, glossy photographs.
The noun glossy typically refers to a magazine printed on high-quality paper with a shiny finish, often featuring fashion, celebrities, or lifestyle content: She flipped through the glossies at the salon.
Something glossy may also suggest superficial attractiveness that conceals a lack of substance beneath the polished exterior.
Reflecting light smoothly
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
- buffedRubbed to shine
- varnishedCoated with clear gloss
- lacqueredCoated with hard gloss
glazed · waxed · enameled · lustrous · burnished · sleek · smooth · slick
Soft reflected light
- shineEmit or reflect light
- gleamFaint reflected light
- glimmerFaint, wavering light
- sparkleEmit flashing light
radiance · glow · shimmer · brightness · brilliance · iridescence · luminosity · shining
Renowned style periodical
- publicationIssued written material
- periodicalRecurring printed publication
- editorialPublication's official viewpoint article
- photoshootPlanned portrait session
spread · cover · fashion · celebrity · advertising · subscription · issue · lifestyle
Decorative outer layer
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- polishSmooth by rubbing
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
- imageVisual or mental likeness
appearance · packaging · presentation · spin · marketing · shallowness · surface-level · manufactured
shiny
Reflecting light smoothly
lacquered · glazed · waxed · enameled · lustrous · burnished · sleek · smooth · slick · satin
luster
Soft reflected light
sparkle · radiance · glow · shimmer · brightness · brilliance · iridescence · luminosity · shining · glinting
Vogue
Renowned style periodical
- publicationIssued written material
- periodicalRecurring printed publication
- editorialPublication's official viewpoint article
photoshoot · spread · cover · fashion · celebrity · advertising · subscription · issue · lifestyle · feature
veneer
Decorative outer layer
image · appearance · packaging · presentation · spin · marketing · shallowness · surface-level · manufactured · artificial
chic
Tasteful, current flair
- stylishFashionably elegant
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
fashionable · luxurious · opulent · posh · swank · alluring · dazzling · haute · designer · prestige
- beauty termsmatte, dewy, hydrating, moisturizing, smoothing
- flashyshowy, flamboyant, glitzy, gaudy, garish
- furniture traitswooden, upholstered, cushioned, padded, comfortable
- nail polishnail polish, lacquer, enamel, varnish, nail lacquer
- paper qualitiessmooth, rough, matte, textured, thick
- photo effectsblur, sharpen, brightness, contrast, saturation
glossycheap
Low in price
downmarket · low-budget · homemade · amateurish · rough-hewn
glossyunvarnished
Without embellishment or coating
raw · gritty · authentic · unglamorous · warts-and-all
- lip glossShiny lip cosmetic
- gloss overMinimize or conceal flaws
- glossing overSuperficially covering faults
- glossy finishLustrous surface treatment
- high glossIntense reflective sheen
- glossy surfaceSmooth, light-reflecting outer layer
gloss, glossary, glossies, glossiness, glossily, glossing, glossier, glossiest