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
As the effects of the dry ground and intense sunlight have become more serious, the mosses -- which symbolize the Katsura Imperial Villa -- are gradually losing their luster. — Hiroshige Yazawa Japan News, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026 Adding further luster, a good number of those diamonds were cut when the defending champions were trailing or even, late in a match. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 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
  • Meanwhile, Tucuma-seed and buriti oils soften the skin and boost its radiance for a subtle, youthful gleam.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • In other words, there is no recapturing the mythological—and curiously innocent—gleam of earlier World Cup eras.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • Between 2017 and 2023, Sickafoose's team probed Pluto's atmosphere during ten occultations of stars ranging in brightness from about magnitude 12 to magnitude 18, far below naked-eye visibility.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Saie’s Glowy Super Gel is a luminous, hydrating, primer-meets-base that truly gives the look of a post Euro-summer glow and brightness.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of brightness
Verb
  • At first spritz, you’re instantly enchanted and uplifted by sparkling, tart notes of pomelo and yuzu.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Enter Nature’s Organic, which was launched in Fremont in 2017, later expanded to Sunnyvale and has recently opened a bright, sparkling new shop on the avenue in downtown Campbell.
    — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of sparkle
Noun
  • Iron emits a golden yellow, nitrogen and oxygen glow red, sodium appears orange, and calcium looks violet.
    — Michael J. Caduto, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The clinking of pints, the warmth of friendship, and the glow of pride in service filled the air.
    — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of glow
Noun
  • The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of brilliancy
Verb
  • When the moon starts to cross in front of the sun, the star’s rays will shine around valleys on the moon’s horizon, creating glowing drops of light around the moon called Baily’s beads.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In a matchup between struggling lineups, both starting pitchers shined.
    — CBS New York Team, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of shine
Noun
  • Glass hair is exactly that—shiny, soft lengths with that unmistakable mirror-like sheen.
    — Selvaggia Germani, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Chrome For a touch of flair, this manicure features a soft pink polish finished with an iridescent chrome sheen, giving the nails a glazed effect.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheen
Noun
  • Over time, the same system that profited from his brilliance proved indifferent to his vulnerability, and his life became reduced to a singular narrative of addiction and demise.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Kendrick and Rihanna’s vocals remain clear throughout, and the high-end brilliance adds sparkle to the cymbals, generating a more lifelike drum beat.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of brilliance

Browse Nearby Words

lusted (for or after)
luster
lustered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Luster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luster. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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