Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lustrous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lustrous are bright, brilliant, luminous, and radiant. While all these words mean "shining or glowing with light," lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

When might bright be a better fit than lustrous?

The words bright and lustrous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

When would brilliant be a good substitute for lustrous?

While the synonyms brilliant and lustrous are close in meaning, brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

When is luminous a more appropriate choice than lustrous?

The synonyms luminous and lustrous are sometimes interchangeable, but luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

When could radiant be used to replace lustrous?

The words radiant and lustrous can be used in similar contexts, but radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

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 lustrous Hair combing held a natural appeal, blessed as Cheng is with a long, full, and lustrous raven mane. Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 22 May 2025 The vehicle up for sale is finished in a lustrous coat of Midnight Blue over a blue and white leather interior with a dark blue soft-top. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 15 May 2025 Black denim takes on a satin effect with lustrous finishes. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 27 May 2025 In a lustrous champagne hue, the material offered an additional shine to Davis’ ensemble. Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lustrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lustrous
Adjective
  • Glowing collarbones, shimmering shoulders, and luminous legs are all part of the summer story.
    Larry Stansbury, Essence, 27 June 2025
  • The color in the glass is a delicate but luminous pale pink, with reflections reminiscent of rose petals or light salmon.
    Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Imagine being able to see precisely how team members contribute to a project—not just who speaks up in meetings (as evidenced by transcripts) or turns in polished presentations, but who drafts, refines, questions, and rethinks.
    David Ferrucci, Fortune, 30 June 2025
  • One essay felt stitched together from two minds—half of it was polished and rote, the other intimate and unfiltered.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • When Richard Ellmann’s James Joyce hit the shelves in 1959, the sheer size of the book (842 pages, 100 longer than Ulysses ) was as dazzling as the degree of detail.
    Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025
  • Romance and your creative potential will be dazzling!
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Her next shining moment comes when two young sisters enter the hospital.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Fox’s lips were painted in a gray-nude glossy shade, a neutral choice to complement her pale, even-toned base.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
  • The New York Post covered the killer’s trial gavel to gavel, while glossy magazines wrote about how not to let this happen to you.
    Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • The incoming and outgoing CEOs both had glowing words for each other on Tuesday.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 18 June 2025
  • Keeping skin soft, smooth, glowing—and protected against UV rays—should be at the top of your summer priority list.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • Like several others in its catalog, this vacuum boasts a sleek design that’s reminiscent of best-sellers like Samsung’s Bespoke Jet.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2025
  • Digitizing services or offering sleek apps is no longer sufficient.
    Gabriele Buffo, Fortune, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • These coddling treatments help get your hair looking frizz-free and shiny with minimal effort.
    Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 1 July 2025
  • Infused with pomegranate extract sourced from YSL’s very own gardens in Morocco, the nourishing formula softens strands, leaving them extra silky and shiny.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lustrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lustrous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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