Skip to main content
pearlescent

pearlescent

1 7.9
A shiny surface like a pearl that shows rainbow colors when you move it
  • adjective
  • /ˌpɪrˈlɛsənt/
translation icon : perlado
  • The artist used pearlescent paints to give the landscape an iridescent glow under the evening sun.

Brightening, smoothing, a teeny bit of pearlescent Sheen, but never too much.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • It is thin but it is buildable and it has a beautiful pearlescent satin finish and I use this all the time I'm wearing it right now.

  • The store was a glistening, pearlescent cavern filled with costumed mannequins and saleswomen.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • How about that for a pearlescent colourful look at the way it reflects the light?

  • Lots of white gold pearlescent shimmers in it.

  • I always carried it there, in its shell-shaped, pearlescent box.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • But it just gives you like a subtle pearlescent kind of pinky glow.

  • Illuminating pearlescent particles for a glowing skin finish.

  • She goes out to get her hair streaked and her nails painted a kind of pearlescent apricot.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • They were round, except for one side that came out in a smooth ellipse, pearlescent pastel rainbows that wavered with each movement.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The walls of the gallery were painted in a beautiful, pearlescent hue that caught the light beautifully.

Synonyms

pearly
vspearlescent
22 3.2

Having a white, shiny look with a soft glow

is used for the same shine but emphasizes the white tone
iridescent
vspearlescent
12 7.6

Bright colors that seem to change when seen from different angles

is softer and more like a smooth shell rainbow sheen than bright flashes
prismatic
vspearlescent
2 6.7

Having the shape of a prism or showing bright rainbow colours

refers to a softer, shell-based rainbow sheen rather than prism splits
opalescent
vspearlescent
1 8.2

Soft, shiny colors on a surface that look like a small rainbow

leans toward smooth shell shimmer rather than milky patchy colors
changeable
vspearlescent
1 6.0

Showing different colours when seen from different angles

focuses on a soft shell-like iridescence rather than general color change
nacreous
vspearlescent
1 9.7

A shiny, pearly surface that shows soft rainbow colors

is the term for the same shell-like, soft rainbow sheen
irised
vspearlescent
9.4

A surface with changing bright colors like a rainbow when light hits it

means a gentler, shell-based shimmer with subtle color shifts
pearlized
vspearlescent
  • US
6.0

Having a shiny surface that shows soft changing colors like a pearl

describes the same soft shell shimmer but in general descriptive use
pearl-like
vspearlescent
4.0

A smooth, shiny surface that glows softly in light

is the general adjective for that same smooth, shifting sheen
opaline
vspearlescent
8.8

Having a milky rainbow shine that changes with light

is more about a smooth shell sheen than gem-like milky color
chatoyant
vspearlescent
  • Specialized
9.9

Shining with a changing color or light when you look from different angles

covers the same angle effect but stresses soft shell shimmer not fabric gems

Antonyms

297 4.4

Not lively and often weak in taste or sound

2 3.5

Not shiny and showing little reflection

How Pearly

iridescent
12 7.6
pearlescent
1 7.9
pearly
22 3.2
shiny
302 1.0
dull
31 1.0

Surface Forms

pearlescent positive

Morphology

pearlescent = pearl (semi-transparent) = pearl + escent

The word is clearly based on 'pearl' plus the adjectival suffix '-escent', but the full sense 'lustrous and iridescent like a pearl' is slightly specialized rather than fully compositional.

Etymology

Pearlescent comes from the word pearl, a shiny gem made by an oyster, and the ending -escent, which means 'becoming' or 'showing' and appears in words like fluorescent. So, pearlescent means 'showing a pearl-like shine' that seems to change color when you move.