adjective
-
glossy or polished; bright
-
(of clothes or material) worn to a smooth and glossy state, as by continual rubbing
Other Word Forms
- shinily adverb
- shininess noun
- unshiny adjective
Etymology
Origin of shiny
Explanation
Shiny describes something with a smooth, glossy surface. If you want to see your reflection in the glass table, you'll have to polish it to keep it shiny. Something shiny has a shine, a brightness that comes from reflecting light. Are you into shiny new cars, or shiny diamonds? Or do you like shiny, happy people? Good synonyms are lustrous, sheeny and glossy.
Vocabulary lists containing shiny
Lyrics from "Umbrella" by Rihanna
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"A Suitcase of Seaweed" and "Immigrants Today"
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Sula
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A combination of letters signifying a person or brand feels Old World rather than the shiny new feeling that defines our casual, everyday West Coast lifestyle.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
My most important bit of advice is don’t add A.I. just because it’s a shiny little button.
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
A formal living room and dining room are on the first floor, as is the gorgeous kitchen with lots of shiny subway tile, marble counters, and an island with wine storage.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026
Similarly, the polyester film in those shiny foil party balloons is also made from crude oil.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026
Ma was limp on the bed, her eyes closed, neck shiny with sweat.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
