as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface
polished the metal until it had an even sheen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to shimmer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sheen
Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 26 Apr. 2025
The fabric feels supportive for high-intensity workouts and has a subtle sheen.
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 23 Apr. 2025
Anna Staver, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2023
Boaters off Orange County and residents of Newport Beach started reporting a petroleum smell in the air and oily sheen on the water Friday afternoon, Oct. 1.
—Christopher Weber, ajc, 8 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for sheen
Noun
The liquid metal effect is achieved through designs that often feature shiny, reflective materials, such as sequins, metallic fabrics and innovative draping techniques, to mimic the fluidity and sheen of liquid metal, offering a futuristic aesthetic.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 26 Apr. 2025
The fabric feels supportive for high-intensity workouts and has a subtle sheen.
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
Professor:Oily sheen on East Palestine creek behaving like vinyl chloride So far, Ohio EPA says its tests have not detected vinyl chloride in waterways.
—Anna Staver, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2023
Boaters off Orange County and residents of Newport Beach started reporting a petroleum smell in the air and oily sheen on the water Friday afternoon, Oct. 1.
—Christopher Weber, ajc, 8 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for sheen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheen
Noun
-
This has been a gleam in scientists’ eyes for quite some time.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
1 May 2025
-
Witness Killian Maddox, a bodybuilder whose formidable muscles gleam under golden light.—
Hannah Giorgis,
The Atlantic,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Her look shimmered on the red carpet thanks to intricate beading throughout.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 May 2025
-
Union opted for a shimmering high-neck Michael Kors dress with a cascading ombré scale pattern.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
6 May 2025
Verb
-
This pageant of puppetry includes a flutter of butterflies, a goat with a plaintive bleat, a menagerie of wild animals and, at one point, a school of glowing fish.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
-
They can be dusted lightly for a barely-there glow or layered for vibrant drama.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
The glint of the sun, gleaming light, on the tops, and shadow, darkness in the troughs.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The light from the lake glints through the windows and falls across Marcus’s face.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Its level of finesse invites certain comparisons to Tatiana, the glittering Lincoln Center restaurant run by Kwame Onwuachi, another chef asserting the haute-cuisine artistry of food born of Black cultures.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
4 May 2025
-
Sears Tower ended the Empire State Building’s four-decade reign as the world’s tallest and transformed the West Loop into a glittering office corridor.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
The quiet reflection under the glare of recorders and TV cameras soon to air on the YES Network postgame occurred nearly an hour after the highly touted pitch failed him again.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Viewers are strongly advised to avoid looking at the sun's glare without safety eyewear to avoid irreversible eye damage.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Men sweating in the weight room, women glistening in the aerobics studio—was the gym ever as segregated as that ready image?—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
10 May 2025
-
If not for the picture-perfect backdrop of golden roofs of Buddhist temples – surrounded by majestic mountains and glistening in abundant sunshine – Lhasa could sometimes look like just another small city in China, especially outside its historical center.—
Steven Jiang,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
Invest in a hair gloss during the transitional period to nourish and add shine to your strands.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
14 May 2025
-
Spurs were absolutely cruising at 3-0 up, and a couple of mistakes from (goalkeeper) Fraser Forster playing out from the back let United back into the game, in a way that put a gloss on that scoreline that was more than a little generous to them.—
The View from the Lane,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sheen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheen. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share