Sparkling

adj.joyful, energeticeveryday

Meaning 1

Giving off lively flashes of light.

Reach for it when praising visual brightness with movement and brilliance

A sparkling ribbon of water crossed the dark stone.

warm
radiant
when steady brightness or visible happiness fills the subject
not when Radiant conveys a broad glow, not a sequence of crisp flashes.
literary
glittering
when brilliance appears rich and visually conspicuous
not when Glittering may imply display or glamour rather than fresh, playful light.
literary
shimmering
when a soft and wavering glow is the effect
not when Shimmering is more continuous and subdued than sparkling.

Lively, clever, and highly entertaining.

Reach for it when describing talk, humor, or performance with vivid social energy

The cast gave the old comedy a sparkling new rhythm.

everyday
witty
when clever humor is the exact quality to praise
not when Witty can be dry and quiet, whereas sparkling also carries vivacity.
professional
brilliant
when exceptional intelligence or quality matters most
not when Brilliant is stronger and broader, with no promise of lightness or charm.
formal
effervescent
when a person's bubbling enthusiasm drives the atmosphere
not when Effervescent describes temperament better than polished wit or visual brightness.
formal
vivacious
when a person has attractively animated energy
not when Vivacious fits people and manner, not a single clever line or bright object.

sparkling water
Sparkling water caught the afternoon sun beside the quay.
sparkling performance
A sparkling performance made the familiar score feel newly discovered.
sparkling conversation
Their sparkling conversation drew the quieter guests into the circle.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.