shiny

American  

[shahy-nee] / ˈʃaɪ ni /

adjective

shinier, shiniest

1. bright or glossy in appearance.

   Synonyms:

   gleaming, shining, brilliant

2. filled with light, as by sunshine.

   Synonyms:

   gleaming, shining, brilliant

3. rubbed or worn to a glossy smoothness, as clothes.

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shiny British  

/ ˈʃaɪnɪ /

adjective

1. glossy or polished; bright

2. (of clothes or material) worn to a smooth and glossy state, as by continual rubbing

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• shinily
  adverb
• shininess
  noun
• unshiny
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of shiny

First recorded in 1580–90; shine ¹ + -y ¹

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.

Related Words

• gleaming
• glossy
• lustrous
• polished
• slick
• sparkling