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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 May 2023
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
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 22 June 2025
Yesterday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that China was holding up the sale, suggesting that China may have an upper hand in TikTok negotiations, and perhaps TikTok is losing its sheen as a US bargaining chip in Trump's bigger trade war.
—ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheen
Noun
The latter was already buffed to a brilliant R&B sheen thanks to production and songwriting contributions from Babyface, the Rascals, and BLK.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 May 2023
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
Verb
The title track – the last song on the album – does follow a Boss-esque blueprint of vivid storytelling (with the serious true-life recounting of a near-fatal car crash as a teen), but the music leans more Killers sheen than Springsteen muscularity.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 22 June 2025
Yesterday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that China was holding up the sale, suggesting that China may have an upper hand in TikTok negotiations, and perhaps TikTok is losing its sheen as a US bargaining chip in Trump's bigger trade war.
—ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheen
Noun
-
Her maroon nails and gold Oura ring gleam in the dappled sunlight.—
Avery Stone,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
-
Fitzgerald understood this long before multidistrict litigation was a gleam in a judge’s eye.—
Aron Solomon
June 24,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
The lake shimmers below, and on clear mornings, the snowcapped head of Monte Rosa peeks out above.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
The stage shimmered; Quincy’s name reverberated as the lineup rolled out: Tyrese, Robin Thicke, Al B. Sure!, SWV, Xscape, MC Lyte, The Pharcyde, and Mobb Deep — all artists whose sounds echo Jones’s genius.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
refinery29.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, glows with buildings carved from Villamayor sandstone that shimmer like honey under the basking Castilian rays.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
Trump continues to threaten news outlets that report on him in anything less than glowing terms.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
The camera caresses her, slicing her body into limbs, arcs, glints of effort.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
10 July 2025
-
Barely discernible in the May gloom, a glint of purple shone from the jacaranda’s canopy; nearby, seed pods dotted patches of green.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Alongside her glittering music career (let the record show Don’t Stop the Music went triple platinum on my iPod Shuffle), Rihanna has long secured her place as a global fashion icon.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
14 July 2025
-
Based on Michelle Frances’ novel of the same name, The Girlfriend follows Laura (Wright), a woman who seemingly has it all: a glittering career, a loving husband, and her precious son, Daniel.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
There wasn’t any glare to speak of, either, and mind you, our lab's overhead LEDs did try and create some.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 July 2025
-
Despite the glare on the windows and the people in the bar, the crowd attempted to take photos of Urban playing inside.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
Six-foot-7 and 320 pounds in his prime, Hogan — born Terry Bollea — would enter the ring in yellow trunks, boots and a bandana, his muscles bulging, his body glistening.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
24 July 2025
-
Each juicy red slice measured about two inches thick, their glistening fat caps stretching along the outside of each.—
Keith Pandolfi,
The Enquirer,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Both shows remind us that before all the gloss is applied, making magazines and making television is a job.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
12 June 2025
-
Most importantly, the conservation angle isn’t some campaign gloss.—
Shelby Knick,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sheen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheen. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share