scintillating

/ˌsɪntɪˈleɪtɪŋ/

Group 15Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(adjective)
Sparkling or shining brightly; brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful
GRE

Example in Context

The pianist's scintillating performance of the concerto left the audience breathless and demanding an encore.

Synonyms

sparklingbrilliantdazzling

Etymology

Something scintillating sparkles and shines, like tiny sparks.

  • scintilla (Latin) — spark

Memory Aid

🌟Sounds like “scent til late

A skunk with a SCENT so SCINTILLATING, even skunks stay out late to sniff it!

Visual Association

A dazzling fireworks show lighting up the night sky, sparkling brilliantly.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “scintillating” mean on the GRE?

scintillating (adjective) means “Sparkling or shining brightly; brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful”. The pianist's scintillating performance of the concerto left the audience breathless and demanding an encore.

How to remember “scintillating” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “scintillating” sounds like “scent til late”. A skunk with a SCENT so SCINTILLATING, even skunks stay out late to sniff it!

What are synonyms for “scintillating”?

Common synonyms: sparkling, brilliant, dazzling.