1
as in stars
a ball-shaped gaseous celestial body that shines by its own light
awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in celebrities
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about
luminaries from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and politics were at the gala
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of luminaries
Recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and arranged with conservatory luminaries such as Caroline Shaw, Lux builds from strings, vocal choirs, and enough timpani to simulate a fracking expedition.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
Cameron Crowe was understandably wide-eyed and elated in the 1970s as a San Diego teenager who traveled here, there and everywhere conducting in-depth interviews with The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, Linda Ronstadt and other music luminaries for Rolling Stone magazine.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025
Johnson himself made his early living in the Grub Street milieu, and other luminaries, such as Daniel Defoe, Eliza Haywood and Jonathan Swift, all wrote for the burgeoning market.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025
The collection features many luminaries from the worlds of jazz and modern dance but also features casual gatherings at neighborhood venues.
—Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
The letter was signed by an array of English music luminaries, including Harry Styles, Elton John, and Central Cee.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Grade inflation isn’t restricted to Harvard, as reports in recent years have cited the practice at other Ivy League luminaries.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
That puts them ahead of luminaries like Jalen Hurts, Jared Goff and Lamar Jackson.
—Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
On October 20, Chan and her newlywed wife, the director Hayley Kosan, held a chic-as-hell wedding ceremony at No Bar in Manhattan’s East Village, complete with drag performances from such luminaries as West Dakota, Cherry Veronica Jaymes, and more.
—James Factora, Them., 27 Oct. 2025
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
Cameron Crowe was understandably wide-eyed and elated in the 1970s as a San Diego teenager who traveled here, there and everywhere conducting in-depth interviews with The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin, Linda Ronstadt and other music luminaries for Rolling Stone magazine.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025
Johnson himself made his early living in the Grub Street milieu, and other luminaries, such as Daniel Defoe, Eliza Haywood and Jonathan Swift, all wrote for the burgeoning market.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025
The collection features many luminaries from the worlds of jazz and modern dance but also features casual gatherings at neighborhood venues.
—Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
The letter was signed by an array of English music luminaries, including Harry Styles, Elton John, and Central Cee.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Grade inflation isn’t restricted to Harvard, as reports in recent years have cited the practice at other Ivy League luminaries.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
That puts them ahead of luminaries like Jalen Hurts, Jared Goff and Lamar Jackson.
—Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
On October 20, Chan and her newlywed wife, the director Hayley Kosan, held a chic-as-hell wedding ceremony at No Bar in Manhattan’s East Village, complete with drag performances from such luminaries as West Dakota, Cherry Veronica Jaymes, and more.
—James Factora, Them., 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luminaries
Noun
-
But please know that those stars are given tenderly.—
Lily Osler,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
But the very nature of the connection between stars and their audience is now evolving, according to the IMDb report.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As an attorney at Blank Rome, Combs represents high-net-worth individuals and celebrities like model Emily Ratajkowski and hairstylist Chris Appleton.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
-
New Zealanders are actively trying to not treat people like celebrities.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The dark-sky park, certified by light pollution authority DarkSky International, has incredibly inky nightscapes that help the stars, galaxies, and planets pop.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Flares such as this one reveal the presence of incredibly large stars near the hearts of galaxies and shed light on the very structure of galaxies, Ford said.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In 2020, Lawrence celebrated her 30th birthday and received a sweet message from Kris Jenner, the matriarch of the media personalities.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Back when Lyft announced Women Connect, other alt-right personalities, including influencer Tomi Lahren, blasted the program.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
At its peak, the flare was 30 times brighter than any prior black hole flare, emitting as much energy as 10 trillion suns.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
This new black hole, which is as heavy as 50 million suns and is dubbed QSO1, clashes with the old, provisional account of the galaxy formation process, which did not start with black holes.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The victories are seen by many analysts and political figures as a signal that Democrats have regained momentum after losses in the 2024 election cycle—while some Republican voices warn of growing disconnection from core voters.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Turnout figures for the Sacramento region show the Yes on 50 campaign benefitted from low voter turnout compared to other recent elections.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Whether decked out in clusters of large spherical blossoms or enchanting lacecap flowers, there’s a perfect hydrangea for nearly every yard—whether drenched in sun or cloaked in shade—and every gardener's personality.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
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Scrolling social feeds reveals a relentless parade of fireplace mantels draped in plaid and velvet, clusters of vintage nutcrackers beneath dark-wood shelves, and tablescapes positively roaring with holiday maximalism.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Representatives from various branches of the Armed Forces and city dignitaries are slated to attend.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Despite spending heavily to restore the mansion, Bloomberg chose to live in his Upper East Side townhouse, emphasizing the mansion’s role as a venue for municipal events, meetings with foreign dignitaries, and public tours rather than as a personal residence.—
Nandika Chatterjee,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Luminaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luminaries. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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