Synonyms of luminaries

luminaries

noun

plural of luminary

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

• stars
• galaxies
• suns
• clusters
• spheres
• supernovas
• variables
• constellations
• neutron stars
• brown dwarfs
• quasars
• white dwarfs
• binary stars
• fixed stars
• pulsars
• variable stars
• supergiants
• red stars
• lodestars
• red giants
• superclusters
• giant stars
• dwarfs
• red dwarfs
• novas
• subdwarfs
• gassers

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

• celebrities
• stars
• personalities
• figures
• dignitaries
• notables
• superstars
• heroes
• personages
• celebs
• VIPs
• notabilities
• lights
• names
• standouts
• icons
• megastars
• worthies
• idols
• causes célèbres
• somebodies
• favorites
• eminences
• magnates
• immortals
• notorieties
• pillars
• monuments
• bigwigs
• heartthrobs
• barons
• demigods
• moguls
• nabobs
• big shots
• panjandrums
• kahunas

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nobodies
• mediocrities
• lightweights
• noncelebrities
• has-beens

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of luminaries

Some environmental groups, allied with luminaries like former Vice President Al Gore, are urging Dems to kill the bill in order to produce a new version in the next Congress that wouldn’t allow fossil fuel plants to benefit from these reforms. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026

Bowen Yang is starring in the play on Broadway, and Betty Gilpin, Maya Rudolph and Tituss Burgess are among the luminaries who have staggered to great acclaim in the character’s high heels. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026

Developed in the 1950s as a more compact alternative to trunks, the Alzer quickly became popular with luminaries like Lauren Bacall, Audrey Hepburn, André Leon Talley and Bill Wyman, whose suitcases are all on display. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026

Other movieworld luminaries to take part include actress Monica Bellucci, directors James Gray, Luca Guadagnino, Cristian Mungiu, Laïla Marrakchi, Xavier Dolan and Arthur Harari, and actor-director Gilles Lellouche. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Nov. 2026

The sinking will give new life to a vessel whose once-striking black-and-red exterior paint has been faded by the sun as rust spots pockmark a hull that ferried American luminaries and European royals across the Atlantic Ocean. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026

Fashion world luminaries were also honored, including Tory Burch, Linda Fargo, Peter Marino, Susan Cianciolo, and Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

While mingling among guests at the cocktail hour, Mamdani, who did indeed put on a tux for the occasion, posed for photos with First Lady Rama Duwaji and luminaries, such as collector Bernard Lumpkin and the artist Rashid Johnson. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026

With the passing of Walter Koenig at the age of 90 this past week, franchise luminaries of all degrees are coming out with heartfelt condolences, kind words of remembrance, and tearful reflections. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2026