1
as in star
a ball-shaped gaseous celestial body that shines by its own light
awed by the vast number of luminaries in the night sky
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in celebrity
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about
luminaries from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and politics were at the gala
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in luminous
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of luminary
Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
The momentum behind bipartisan college sports legislation was on full display on the Hill on Wednesday, with luminaries like former Alabama Coach Nick Saban touting the bill during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing and former quarterback Dan Marino pitching it to Senate Republicans at lunch.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
A lot of neighborhoods have luminary traditions that involve lining DIY paper lanterns along the streets and pathways.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminary
Noun
Long an astute observer of discovery and rediscovery, whether the subject is a city or herself, Sante—having emerged from a tight circle of luminaries including Jim Jarmusch, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Nan Goldin—is now on the precipice of a second artistic renaissance.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
The momentum behind bipartisan college sports legislation was on full display on the Hill on Wednesday, with luminaries like former Alabama Coach Nick Saban touting the bill during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing and former quarterback Dan Marino pitching it to Senate Republicans at lunch.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
Adjective
All three bars take their places alongside other luminary bars in the Bay Area, Southern California, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix and Maui.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
A lot of neighborhoods have luminary traditions that involve lining DIY paper lanterns along the streets and pathways.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for luminary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luminary
Noun
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The winners would get their photo taken alongside a Barca star for a charity calendar benefiting UNICEF.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
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Panama is now best known for producing Major League Baseball stars, with legendary New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera standing head and shoulders above the long list of Panamanians who have graced an American ballpark.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Sammy Hagar, the former Van Halen vocalist, sat ringside as the premier celebrity guest.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
13 June 2026
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Millions of Americans are currently injecting unapproved chemicals like peptides promoted by a hodgepodge of wellness influencers and celebrity podcasters.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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This luminous dual-timeline novel follows two couples with ties to El Salvador and the threads of war, loss and love that unite them.—
Caroline Killilea,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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As the title states, this one gets under your skin and features a committed, luminous performance from Johansson.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Premiering June 26 in theaters and Imax, Supergirl sees Milly Alcock reprise her role as the titular superhero alter ego, Kara Zor-El, who celebrates her 23rd birthday while traveling across the galaxy with her dog Krypto.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
14 June 2026
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Starlink operates a galaxy of 9,600 satellites, three-quarters of the total fleet in orbit.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Noun
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As the New York Knicks make their run through the NBA Finals, a wide range of celebrities have shown up to support the team, including model, entrepreneur and media personality Jordyn Woods, who is often spotted courtside alongside Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2026
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The Lesson Is Bigger Than Elon Strip away the personality and the takeaway outlasts the news cycle.—
Robert J. Szczerba,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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Taking place at Del Mar Fairgrounds, this show will blend advanced drone choreography with the unforgettable music and iconic moments from the Harry Potter film series, featuring 1,200 illuminated drones soaring across the night sky.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
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Best Things to Do The Grandin Theatre Showing new and classic movies, The Grandin Theatre anchors the historic Grandin Village district with its dazzling art deco design and an illuminated marquee that transports visitors to the golden age of cinema.—
Julekha Dash,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
Noun
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These memories of his brief, sad human life are uneasy dreams that Lestat wakes from on his tour bus as the sun sets over the road to Toledo.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
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The skyline can barely be seen as the sun is setting behind him.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Noun
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After Miller’s death in 1935, the hotel’s reputation spread even further, attracting dignitaries of the day — and the future.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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He was then escorted by police officers to the airport’s VIP terminal, where he was welcomed by Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, officials from the Somalia Football Federation and other dignitaries and spoke to press.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Luminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luminary. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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