Definition of lustrousnext

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 style is made with a metallic napa leather upper and a leather sole in a lustrous metallic gold. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 5 June 2026 For many, the lustrous vehicles of past decades qualify as old masters. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026 The lustrous foliage resists deer browsing. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 May 2026 While making skin smooth and dewy, body oils leave behind a lustrous glow wherever applied—and per De. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lustrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lustrous
Adjective
  • Indeed, Brocka insists on escapist fantasies in a world that otherwise offers no escape, which, in my view, is more hopeful than bleak — and, in turn, allows this kind of gritty sensuality to persist in his ever-enduring, luminous cinema.
    Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
  • The collection’s color palette combines seasonal colors with more technical and luminous hues, in line with Reda’s overall visual universe.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 7 July 2026
Adjective
  • Oversized shades and a top-handle bag keep the ensemble polished yet unfussy.
    Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 18 July 2026
  • The dark-colored wash is a nice, polished touch—even with their relaxed silhouette, and midriff bearing rise.
    Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • The Homeric text is full of transformations, shape-shifting and super-speed, alongside meticulous labor and elaborate rites; the movie is neither dazzling nor precise.
    Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • However the winding structure lends itself to their best impulses, following hip-hop production and sampling down the memory holes of the group’s creative minds, helping II find enough dazzling moments to help all the chaos settle into place.
    Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • The horses splashed fetlocks through the mud and water stood in little pools all about the desert, glistening ripples of silver in the blustery gusts of wind.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 July 2026
  • The base is a matte cat-eye, but the whole design is finished with a shiny top coat for a glistening melted-Popsicle effect.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • At a time of so much partisanship in Congress, especially related to health care, breakthrough legislation is a shining example of how commonsense policies that support patient care and innovation can achieve broad support.
    Josh Makower, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Those memories will remain some of the most shining and unforgettable moments of my life.
    Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The glossy domed bun, truffle aioli and wagyu beef helped elevate the burger above standard pub fare.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 16 July 2026
  • The monkey has a glossy black coat, long fur, a sweeping tail and striking orange-cream facial markings, said researchers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and the City University of New York Graduate Center in statements on Wednesday.
    Jack Guy, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • The trailer opens with a montage of a glowing Lily (Lively) walking through Boston.
    Alyssa Rotunno, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • Its light is rather that of a glowing molten metal than that of a burning furnace.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • Standard rooms are small but sleek in shades of grey with dark wooden furniture and statement armchairs.
    Siobhan Grogan, TheWeek, 17 July 2026
  • Virginia Bender The areas where the Old West doesn’t get so wild are the big functional kitchen with its gleaming stainless steel range, and the bathrooms, modern and sleek with marble to match the best hotel suites.
    Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lustrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lustrous. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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