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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
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
SentinelOne's workforce cuts also came alongside lackluster guidance for the current quarter and full year.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 29 May 2026
But sometimes, their garden splendor might seem lackluster and a tad bit tired and droopy, with the onset of symptoms usually hitting around the same time every afternoon.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
Even if ticket sales remain lackluster, millions of people around the world will be tuning in to watch their country’s best play—and see the ads both on the broadcast and around the stadiums.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 27 May 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 4 Jun. 2026.
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lackluster
adjective
