1
as in glowing
giving off or reflecting much light
the luminous moon bathed the snow-covered fields with a pearly glow
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement
some of the most luminous writers in the nation's history have graced that magazine's pages
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3
as in unmistakable
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
an author with a simple, luminous prose style that is free of affectation and pretention
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of luminous
The team behind this research used the JWST's Near InfraRed Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) instruments to investigate IRAS 07251–0248, an ultra-luminous infrared galaxy whose dense galactic heart is obscured by immense amounts of dust and gas.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The luminous snap peas and ribbons of radish and carrot had just as much ethereal beauty as any glacé pear or citron.
—Hannah Walhout, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
Joy returning in simple, luminous ways.
—Adrianne Wright, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026
Raw celtuce, a lettuce cultivar bred for its sweet stem rather than for its leaves, is cut into neat rectangles of a luminous parakeet green, interleaved with strips of jiggly kombu jelly, and plated atop a vermillion pool of Yongchun red vinegar.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for luminous
Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The luminous snap peas and ribbons of radish and carrot had just as much ethereal beauty as any glacé pear or citron.
—Hannah Walhout, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
Joy returning in simple, luminous ways.
—Adrianne Wright, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026
Raw celtuce, a lettuce cultivar bred for its sweet stem rather than for its leaves, is cut into neat rectangles of a luminous parakeet green, interleaved with strips of jiggly kombu jelly, and plated atop a vermillion pool of Yongchun red vinegar.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for luminous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for luminous
Adjective
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In the spring of 2024, Flynn McGuire started to notice glowing references online to an unapproved drug that proponents claimed could help the body heal more quickly.—
Sara Talpos — Undark,
STAT,
3 Feb. 2026
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The film has a brutal 6% critic score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score is at a glowing 99%.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Crosby, in his 21st NHL season, is having a typically outstanding campaign.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The driver was apprehended and has prior convictions for being an armed felon and an outstanding warrant, according to the department.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Telltale Signs of Rotary Motion The re-examination revealed unmistakable evidence that this was no simple awl meant for poking holes.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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Those distinctive features give the species a look that is at once gentle and unmistakable — a face that, for the wildlife community, has become a symbol of how close a species can come to vanishing entirely and still find a path back.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Eloise's shining moment comes in Quinn's To Sir Phillip, With Love, and follows her love story with Sir Phillip Crane—yes, that Phillip, who married his late brother's true love Marina Thompson.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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Her world, fueled by her life, was the shining and irrefutable definition of integrity.—
Josh Peter,
USA Today,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Folks rolled into the Mercury Theater, then under the management of Michael Cullen, who conveniently owned the Irish pub next door, replete with a distinguished meatloaf.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers (13 points) The Steelers summoned the 62-year-old Pittsburgh native after his one-year sabbatical, and McCarthy will continue his distinguished coaching tour after leading the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys earlier in his career.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Henry Ford, but for housing If the goal is to bring down building costs, rethinking the basics of the construction process is an obvious place to start.—
Ben Christopher,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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The imminent launch got less obvious cues throughout the show, too.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In front of a raucous home crowd, Italy held off Georgia for the bronze medal behind a dazzling free skate from Matteo Rizzo, who dropped to his knees on the ice and cried.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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Chicago might not have necessarily gotten dazzling returns on its trades — nine second-round picks were acquired in the last week alone — but for a team that’s been stuck in Play-In Purgatory for years, the sense of direction is refreshing, at least.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For this most prestigious honor of the Those Who Excel awards, recipients have demonstrated a significant commitment to equity and student success, regularly collaborate to create positive school cultures and serve as lifelong learners who inspire the broader community, according to the ISBE.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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The Jackson Hole native won one of the most prestigious races at the Games, as the downhill is sort of like the 100-m dash at the Summer Games.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Luminous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/luminous. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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