glimmer

/ˈɡlɪmə(ɹ)/noun

A weak or unsteady light that is barely visible.

Example sentences

“A glimmer of candlelight showed under the bedroom door.”
“Through the fog we could just make out the glimmer of the lighthouse.”

'A glimmer of hope' is the fixed phrase, so common it borders on cliche. A glimmer is fainter than a gleam, which is fainter than a glow.

Synonyms for glimmer

gleam
glint
flicker
shimmer
twinkle

Often confused with glimmer

glimmer vs glimpse

Related words

glistenTo shine with small flashes of reflected light, as a wet or oily surface does.gleefulFull of open, excited delight, often at a victory or someone else's misfortune.globeThe world we live on; the planet Earth.gleanTo gather information slowly, piece by piece, from different sources.gloomyDark and depressing, or feeling sad and without hope.glaringExtremely obvious, especially of a mistake or problem that is hard to miss.