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luster 1 of 2

noun

ˈlə-stər How to pronounce luster (audio)
variants or lustre
Definition of lusternext
1
as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface the Hope diamond is famous for its brilliant luster

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in brightness
the quality or state of having or giving off light on a clear night at sea the stars seem to take on a magical luster

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

luster

2 of 2

verb

variants or lustre
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light her pearl necklace lustered softly in the candlelight of the restaurant

Synonyms & Similar 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 luster
Noun
Brightly Colored Garments There is nothing more frustrating than a garment that has mysteriously lost its luster after only one or two washes. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026 Sierra Canyon battles a JSerra team looking to regain its former luster after finishing 3-7 in 2025. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Make sure to hand-wash any copper items or other precious metals to keep their shine and luster intact and avoid discoloration or tarnishing. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for luster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luster
  1. gleam
  2. brightness
  3. sparkle
  4. glow
  5. brilliancy
  6. shine
  7. sheen
  8. brilliance
Noun
  • For the first time in a long time, the Chicago Bulls have a gleam about them.
    — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Hansen delivers this not with gravity but with a gleam in his eye, proud of his big showbiz sell.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • While the telescope’s Galactic Bulge survey is designed to primarily search for microlensing events, Roman will also repeatedly measure the brightness of hundreds of millions of stars along the way.
    — Thomas Fauchez, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
  • However, at infrared wavelengths the brightness of an object is dependent mostly on its size, allowing accurate determinations of the diameters of the 27 TNOs.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of brightness
Verb
  • Encased in a sophisticated bottle that calls to mind Tommy Hilfiger fashion, this new scent features a juicy top note of sparkling lychee before settling into a warmer depth of magnolia blossom and a base of vanilla blue.
    — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Hargitay and Amaya both wore sparkling red Monse gowns, adorned with sequins and feathers.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of sparkle
Noun
  • It’s perfectly designed for sipping cocktails under the warm glow of the hotel's signature red canvas awnings and people-watching as Paris’s most chic inhabitants walk by.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Gonzalez’s Instagram portfolio features a collection of similar skin-first looks, each with its own distinctive glow; the artist often favors radiant complexions over matte finishes.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of glow
Noun
  • Why this farewell is so low-key Ordinarily, the weeks between greatest elongation and greatest brilliancy are prime time for Venus watchers.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Definition of brilliancy
Verb
  • The spotlight shines bright on Josh Allen and especially Joe Brady.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • There should be no information shared with that committee that does not deserve the light of day shone brightly upon it.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of shine
Noun
  • Counterbalancing him is a young actor cast to play one of the show’s decoys (an excellent Skylar Gisondo), whose guilelessness only magnifies the film’s sense of Hansen as a man constructed entirely out of TV-friendly sheen.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Wear it on its own for a subtle glossy sheen or layer it over your favorite lipstick to fight dryness as the weather cools down.
    — Jordan Julian, InStyle, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of sheen
Noun
  • Luxe Dominoes boxes are made from a single piece of acrylic that's heated, folded and then flame-polished to give the sets unique brilliance – treated more like glass than acrylic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Success doesn’t come from one‑time brilliance, but from repeatable processes.
    — Alec Litowitz, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of brilliance

Browse Nearby Words

lusted (for or after)
luster
lustered
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Cite this Entry

“Luster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luster. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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