1
as in glowing
giving off or reflecting much light
the luminous moon bathed the snow-covered fields with a pearly glow
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2
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement
some of the most luminous writers in the nation's history have graced that magazine's pages
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3
as in unmistakable
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
an author with a simple, luminous prose style that is free of affectation and pretention
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as in brightness
the quality or state of having or giving off light
there's a special luminousness to the air over the island that painters and photographers have long sought to capture
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of luminous
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Emblematic is Hine’s luminous picture of a young girl — called a spinner — at North Carolina’s Whitnel Cotton Mfg. Co.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
John Krasinski handed his franchise off to the director of Pig and the luminous Lupita Nyong’o to tell a prequel story of the day that the murderous aliens arrived.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 5 May 2025
In 1957, Novak (Sweeney), one of the biggest box office stars of her time and the luminous face of Vertigo, falls for Davis Jr. (Jonsson), the multi-talented Rat Pack sensation who defied boundaries of race and fame.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminous
Adjective
Her luminous journey has been showcased in prominent media, including South Jersey Magazine.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Emblematic is Hine’s luminous picture of a young girl — called a spinner — at North Carolina’s Whitnel Cotton Mfg. Co.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
John Krasinski handed his franchise off to the director of Pig and the luminous Lupita Nyong’o to tell a prequel story of the day that the murderous aliens arrived.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 5 May 2025
In 1957, Novak (Sweeney), one of the biggest box office stars of her time and the luminous face of Vertigo, falls for Davis Jr. (Jonsson), the multi-talented Rat Pack sensation who defied boundaries of race and fame.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luminous
Adjective
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Gleeson says Krasinski and Carell's support — and their glowing reports of their own experiences working on The Office — made accepting the role that much more affirming.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
25 May 2025
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Leave it on and rub it in after your shave routine as a hydrating after-shave oil to soothe your skin and reveal your glowing, radiant skin.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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That’s the number of borrowers with outstanding federal student loan debt as of the second quarter of 2025, according to the Department of Education.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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At the March 3 hearing, attorneys representing Moreno and Escobar agreed Escobar’s 401k, through Major League Baseball, would be used to pay his outstanding debt.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Beyond the physical abuse, Cassie endured a steady drumbeat of insidious threats that sent an unmistakable message: the violence could escalate at any moment.—
Lauren Hersh,
New York Daily News,
21 May 2025
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The unmistakable message: in Welch’s House of Representatives, Democratic moderates who think for themselves and question their own party’s orthodoxies are unwelcome.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Other steps to help reduce damage include face masks or glasses made to shield blue light, or just simply lowering the brightness of your phone.—
Joshua Rapp Learn,
Discover Magazine,
21 May 2025
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Both cameras capture good detail and color (for a tablet) without overdoing the brightness.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Attendees rode in support of and alongside community member Eva Zamora, who is a shining example of how to live your best life with Parkinson’s disease and takes cycle classes at EōS regularly, a news release stated.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2025
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Her next shining moment comes when two young sisters enter the hospital.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Lesser known, but no less distinguished, is Cesare Attolini.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
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Father Roman, a distinguished figure with curly black hair and floor-sweeping black cassock, let us in.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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That was all too obvious within minutes of his final home game of the season coming to an end on Friday night.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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This told us how well heat was distributed across the cooking surface, where the pan would heat up fastest, and whether there were any obvious hot spots.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 May 2025
Noun
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So, astronomers have come up with a compromise regarding the geometry of the sun's illumination angle on Venus' disk versus its distance from Earth to determine the time of Venus' greatest brilliancy.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Family circles will have wrapped themselves in the holy pleasures of the great occasion, and everywhere the grand old holiday will have been introduced with all the majesty and brilliancy which clings around the hallowed name of Christmas.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American-Statesman,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Luminous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luminous. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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