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
as in luminous
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of luminary
Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Amy Adams is a tangle of soft and sharp edges, of remorse and defensiveness in an emotionally raw performance as an alcoholic luminary from the modern dance world struggling to reintegrate into life with her family, friends and professional colleagues after six months in rehab.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
Among the notable new names set to walk the halls of the ennui-addled series are Natasha Lyonne, Eli Roth, YouTube icon Trisha Paytas, True Blood star Sam Trammell, and Till luminary Danielle Deadwyler.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminary
Noun
Grab some candles, a luminary and a lantern.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Amy Adams is a tangle of soft and sharp edges, of remorse and defensiveness in an emotionally raw performance as an alcoholic luminary from the modern dance world struggling to reintegrate into life with her family, friends and professional colleagues after six months in rehab.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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
Among the notable new names set to walk the halls of the ennui-addled series are Natasha Lyonne, Eli Roth, YouTube icon Trisha Paytas, True Blood star Sam Trammell, and Till luminary Danielle Deadwyler.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luminary
Noun
-
Recent Democratic stars rising out of Texas titillated the base, not the middle let alone the right.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The comedian and NewsRadio star has not spoken much about the incident, which was captured on video originally published by TMZ.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Speaking of celebrity picks, the Harlee Shoulder Bag was named among Oprah’s Favorite Things of 2025.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
8 Mar. 2026
-
That rare child actor to evolve into an indomitable leading man, Bale is notoriously dismissive of celebrity.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This time, her luminous glow was thanks to the skin tint that Martha Stewart loves.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Rarely used in jewelry, the dark navy of sodalite adds an unexpected layer of depth to Color Blossom’s existing luminous gemstone lineup.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Astronomers captured the most detailed image yet of our galaxy’s center.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But there are plenty of other entities in space, with the most common ones being galaxies, protogalaxies, dark molecular clouds of gas, and the ionized warm-hot intergalactic medium.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
White nationalists at Charlottesville marched hoisting Roman flags, and far-right internet personalities adopted Roman pseudonyms.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The cut of this skirt creates the perfect drape, and the side slit adds a fun touch of personality.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The expansive lobby impresses with a resplendent illuminated glass sculpture, a coffee bar, a lobby bar, and an on-site restaurant, Cavalier.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Outside, nothing but darkness — and the illuminated lights of Dubai port.—
Francesca Street,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ahead, the very best Airbnbs on the Amalfi Coast in Positano and beyond to consider for your next holiday in the sun.—
Angela Tafoya,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Prioritize Sunny Spots Vegetables need sun—lots of it.—
Mike Irvine,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After nearly an hour of speeches, teams of dignitaries donned red hard hats and filed outside on a cold and gray March afternoon, grabbing shovels for the ceremonial groundbreaking.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
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This year, the hotel will celebrate 150 years as an icon of Southern hospitality, hosting presidents, dignitaries, and everyday folks.—
Cynthia J Drake,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Luminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luminary. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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