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Lackluster may describe things that are dull, but the word itself is no yawn. In its earliest uses in the early 17th century, lackluster (also spelled lacklustre) usually described eyes that were dull or lacking in brightness, as in “a lackluster stare.” Later, it came to describe other things whose sheen had been removed; Charles Dickens, in his 1844 novel Martin Chuzzlewit, writes of the faded image of the dragon on the sign outside a village alehouse: “many a wintry storm of rain, snow, sleet, and hail, had changed his colour from a gaudy blue to a faint lack-lustre shade of grey.” These days lackluster is broadly used to describe anything blah, from a spiritless sensation to a humdrum hump day.
Examples of lackluster in a Sentence
Alex Veiga, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Bass faced deep discontent for her lackluster handling of the Palisades fire, which Raman will no doubt tap into.
—The Editorial Board, Daily News, 10 June 2026
When your show’s ratings are lower than whale excrement, which Pelley’s were (and continue to be, under a succession of ever more lackluster Ted Baxters and Ron Burgundys).
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
Given his size and lackluster speed, Ballinger has been relegated to first base duties to date.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lackluster
Cite this Entry
“Lackluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lackluster. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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lackluster
adjective
