shimmer
Light that wavers
Shimmer describes a soft, wavering light—the kind that seems to tremble or ripple rather than shine steadily.
Water shimmers in sunlight, heat shimmers off pavement, fabric shimmers when light catches it at changing angles.
The word suggests gentle luminosity with movement: The lake shimmered in the moonlight.
As a noun, a shimmer is this quality of light itself.
Shine with reflected light
- gleamFaint reflected light
- glintBrief bright reflection
- sparkleEmit flashing light
- shineEmit or reflect light
sheen · luster · gloss · radiance · brilliance · luminosity · glow · flash
Luminous ink pen
- bronzerComplexion-warming makeup
- illuminatorSource of brightness
- glossShine or annotation
- sheenSoft surface luster
dewiness · strobing · pearl · frost · glitter · mica · radiant · dewy
Showing milky iridescence
- pearlescentShowing soft iridescence
- nacreousResembling pearl's iridescence
- holographicMade of light interference patterns
- prismaticLight-dispersing, multicolored
rainbow · mother-of-pearl · lustrous · spectrum · diffraction · kaleidoscopic · opal · abalone
Decorative clothing disc
- laméMetallic-threaded fabric
- organzaSheer, crisp dress fabric
- chiffonDelicate transparent textile
- silkFine woven insect fiber
satin · tulle · gossamer · gauze · metallic · glitter · tinsel · brocade
Unsteady, brief light
- waverHesitate or fluctuate
- flutterRapid light movement
- quiverTrembling or arrow case
- rippleMinor surface disturbance
oscillate · tremble · pulse · undulate · vibrate · dance · sway · fluctuate
Atmospheric optical deception
- hazeMurky atmospheric suspension
- distortionTwisting from original state
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- rippleMinor surface disturbance
convection · asphalt · horizon · desert · thermals · refraction · undulation
glisten
Shine with reflected light
shine · sheen · luster · gloss · radiance · brilliance · luminosity · glow · flash · scintillation
highlighter
Luminous ink pen
- bronzerComplexion-warming makeup
- illuminatorSource of brightness
- glossShine or annotation
sheen · dewiness · strobing · pearl · frost · glitter · mica · radiant · dewy · glistening
opalescent
Showing milky iridescence
- pearlescentShowing soft iridescence
- nacreousResembling pearl's iridescence
- holographicMade of light interference patterns
prismatic · rainbow · mother-of-pearl · lustrous · spectrum · diffraction · kaleidoscopic · opal · abalone · soap bubble
sequin
Decorative clothing disc
silk · satin · tulle · gossamer · gauze · metallic · glitter · tinsel · brocade · taffeta
flicker
Unsteady, brief light
ripple · oscillate · tremble · pulse · undulate · vibrate · dance · sway · fluctuate · shiver
mirage
Atmospheric optical deception
- hazeMurky atmospheric suspension
- distortionTwisting from original state
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
ripple · convection · asphalt · horizon · desert · thermals · refraction · undulation
- beautymakeup, cosmetics, lipstick, mascara, eyeliner
- illusionsmirage, optical illusion, hallucination, illusion, afterimage
- light effectsshine, glow, gleam, glitter, sparkle
- light phenomenarainbow, refraction, diffraction, spectrum, prism
- nail polishnail polish, lacquer, enamel, varnish, nail lacquer
- tackinesstackiness, gaudiness, garishness, tawdriness, trashiness
- heat shimmerOptical distortion from warmth
- shimmy shakeRapid trembling dance move
shimmering, shimmy, shimmers, shimmered, shimmery, shimmies, shimmerings, shimming