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 The lustrous golden oil these fish were packed in was also delicious, having been infused with the same savory flavor tasters detected in the anchovies themselves. Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Sep. 2025 Sateen is known for having a polished appearance because of its lustrous sheen and wrinkle-resistant material. Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025 The Japanese Silk Crewneck Long Sleeve Shirt offers a lustrous 100% silk construction in sophisticated hues like Burgundy and Parchment. Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The shoes were crafted with a smooth satin, which offered Ferrera’s ensemble a lustrous flair. Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for lustrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lustrous
Adjective
  • Two meteor showers and a luminous supermoon will light up the California night sky in October.
    Mike Haskey, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The comet's nucleus will be shrouded in a luminous halo of gas and dust, with a long tail streaming out behind.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the Instagram video, Swift directed her Showgirl persona while sporting an oversized blazer, a black tank top, and crossover waist wide-leg jeans — three polished staples that are so smart to have on hand for fall.
    Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The bestselling mule also got some colorful updates in polished patent.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Afterwards, walk through the dazzling Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, pausing to admire the glass dome and beautiful mosaic floors (but beware of pickpockets).
    Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Every ounce of it was on display when Mitchell initially made that dazzling catch against the Rams.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The ridiculously nourishing formula leaves you glistening but never greasy, with the coconut, açai, and brazil nut oils restoring suppleness to a level that pleased our testers as much as its tropical, coconutty scent and mess-free pump.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • What can any of us make of our momentary intimate lives in such an immense world, with equally immense unknowns, mysteries as great as death or the whale, as deep as love or the ocean, as sad and beautiful as a jellyfish torn and glistening in a small fortress of shore rock?
    Natalie Diaz September 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The best shining example of something that was influenced by us is the British version of The Office.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Encased in a glossy synth-pop tune, producers Max Martin and Shellback lace the lyrics with a melody as addictive as a narcotic, hooking listeners from the start.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The amphibian slip-ons, crafted in glossy green rubber with bulging eyes perched across the vamp, were first introduced at JW Anderson’s fall 2023 menswear show in Milan.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Dense dust lanes can be seen coiling around Andromeda's glowing galactic center, which is thought to house a supermassive black hole 140 million times more massive than our sun.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Those are some very strong and glowing words from Tomlin.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The hardware on this model is sleeker than earlier Scribes too.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The Turkish yard’s halls are currently at capacity with other bespoke builds, with a sleek 164-foot coupé project expected to launch in October and a 197-foot tri-deck due to hit the water before the end of the year.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lustrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lustrous. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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