glossy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈglä-sē How to pronounce glossy (audio)
ˈglȯ-
glossier; glossiest
1
: having a surface luster or brightness
rich glossy leather
glossy paper
2
: attractive in an artificially opulent, sophisticated, or smoothly captivating manner : slick
lots of glossy and phony chatter
glossily adverb
glossiness noun

glossy

2 of 2

noun

plural glossies
1
: a photograph printed on smooth shiny paper
2
chiefly British : slick sense 5
Choose the Right Synonym for glossy

sleek, slick, glossy mean having a smooth bright surface or appearance.

sleek suggests a smoothness or brightness resulting from attentive grooming or physical conditioning.

a sleek racehorse

slick suggests extreme smoothness that results in a slippery surface.

slipped and fell on the slick floor

glossy suggests a highly reflective surface.

photographs having a glossy finish

Examples of glossy in a Sentence

Adjective a plant with glossy green leaves the glossy finish on the gym floor
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Here, the white dial is paired with black detailing and applied indexes, and the glossy lacquered finish is the first time such a technique has been used on the Moonwatch’s step dial. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Continue beating on medium-high until the outside of the bowl is no longer warm to the touch and stiff glossy peaks form, 15 to 20 minutes. Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 Her hair was worn in loose curls, and her makeup was kept simple with a glossy pink lip and rosey nude eyeshadow. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 The glossy studio shows with sleek graphics and coverage changes to make games easier to find and watch, especially compared to previous MLS coverage deals when games were shown on a hodgepodge of TV networks and local affiliates, have worked. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 Keeping colored hair as shiny and glossy as possible requires maintenance. Lauren Murdoch-Smith, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2024 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak personally endorsed him in a glossy campaign brochure. Jane Bradley, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Her rosy blush, glossy coral lip and (literally) eye-popping pink shadow gave Dewan a radiant flush. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 Forget glossy finishes and think antique woods and natural linens instead. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
Her hair has been straightened to perfection with the ends subtly curled under, and the finish is beyond glossy. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 19 Dec. 2023 She's also shifted her approach to fitness after a career of strutting international runways and posing for fashion glossies. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 26 Nov. 2023 The Pirelli Calendar, an annual and highly anticipated fashion glossy, originated in 1964. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 30 Nov. 2023 These can even upgrade your viewing experience from a glossy and distracting one to a glare-free matte finish. WIRED, 28 Oct. 2023 Nnadi is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry having worked at the American glossy for over a decade starting in 2010. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 18 Sep. 2023 He's had an illustrious career in media According to IMDB, Masekela got his start working for Transworld Magazine (a skateboarding glossy now out of publication). Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2023 Every garment was the same glossy — almost wet — texture and the same shade of muted orange. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2023 Her hair, which fell loosely on her back, was given a wet look, while her skin showcased a glossy (and, well, grimy) glow. Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 4 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glossy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

gloss entry 1 + -y entry 1

Noun

derivative of glossy entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of glossy was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near glossy

Cite this Entry

“Glossy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glossy. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

glossy

adjective
ˈgläs-ē,
ˈglȯs-
glossier; glossiest
: having a surface luster or brightness
glossiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on glossy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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