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luminary 1 of 2

noun

ˈlü-mə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce luminary (audio)
Definition of luminarynext
1
as in star
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 celebrity
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

luminary

2 of 2

adjective

as in luminous

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of luminary
Noun
Once Upon a Time in Harlem In 1972, documentarian William Greaves brought together the surviving luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance for a shindig at Duke Ellington’s house. — A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jodie Foster, screenwriters Paul Schrader and Nicholas Pileggi, Spike Lee, and Daniel Day-Lewis (Miller’s husband) are among the luminaries who appear in the series. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
All three bars take their places alongside other luminary bars in the Bay Area, Southern California, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix and Maui. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026 A lot of neighborhoods have luminary traditions that involve lining DIY paper lanterns along the streets and pathways. — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for luminary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luminary
  1. star
  2. celebrity
  3. luminous
  4. galaxy
  5. personality
  6. illuminated
  7. sun
  8. dignitary
Noun
  • The orbs on the notepad began to resemble planets and Heti added rings to some and clusters of stars around others.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Ellis provided her chic evening clutches to roughly a dozen stars, stylish women that included Allison Janney, Jean Smart, Olivia Munn, Carrie Coon and Awkwafina.
    — Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of star
Noun
  • Maybe this is a good lesson for celebrities to do a following check, in case one of their fan accounts went rogue.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Dimitris Giannetos, celebrity hair stylist, regards it as necessary upkeep.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of celebrity
Adjective
  • Swarovski introduced the iridescent Crystal Iris Pearl, gems with a luminous Crystal Urban Grey effect and the versatile Cabochon Cupchain, which combines crystal brilliance with a pearl-like softness.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Dear Dahlia Lip Paradise Sensual Lip Glow delivers luminous color with an ingredient list (sweet almond, argan, and shea butter oils, and cacao seed butter) that reads like a lip treatment.
    — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of luminous
Noun
  • All this being said, Brothers can be pretty engaging on a galaxy-brain level.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The team thinks that in galaxies with less powerful jets, black hole winds also contribute to shock generation.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of galaxy
Noun
  • Predictable personalities are easier to follow and easier to share.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Yet each one of them has a personality different from every other baby ever born since there has been a world.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of personality
Adjective
  • Greatest brilliancy marks the sweet spot between the two, when Venus' apparent size and shrinking phase combine to give us the greatest apparent area of illuminated Venus in our sky.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Drivers can trigger the car's full performance via a dedicated illuminated red GTI button on the steering wheel.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of illuminated
Noun
  • This adaptation places that globally recognized story under a different sun, in an Indonesian landscape with a local sensibility all its own.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • These are bright and turbulent regions powered by central engine supermassive black holes with masses of millions or even billions of times that of the sun that are feeding on copious amounts of gas and dust.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of sun
Noun
  • The Colosseum has previously closed for only a few hours a time for special visits by important dignitaries, including former US President Barack Obama in 2014.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
  • One of them hit a railway line shortly after a train carrying European dignitaries had passed through.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of dignitary

Browse Nearby Words

luminaries
luminary
luminesce
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Cite this Entry

“Luminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luminary. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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