Opalesce is a verb that describes the process of becoming cloudy or iridescent. Some synonyms for opalesce include shimmer, glisten, gleam, glimmer, shine, and sparkle. These words all refer to a similar type of light reflection or glowing quality. Opalesce can also be used to describe the process of blending together or merging two or more things. Synonyms for this sense of the word include fuse, blend, meld, amalgamate, and coalesce. These words all imply a coming together or combining of separate elements to create a new, unified whole.