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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
Scott Maxwell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 June 2026
Brazil will try to improve following a lackluster 1-1 draw against Morocco last week.
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David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
San Diego Padres The Padres rank last in the majors in runs per game, and that lackluster offense is actively undermining an all-world bullpen that ranks as one of the best units in baseball.
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Eno Sarris,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
At first glance, the lackluster 2026 could be chalked up to financial sector weakness.
—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
16 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 26 Jun. 2026.
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lackluster
adjective
