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Lackluster may describe things that are dull, but the word itself is no yawn. In its earliest uses in the early 17th century, lackluster (also spelled lacklustre) usually described eyes that were dull or lacking in brightness, as in “a lackluster stare.” Later, it came to describe other things whose sheen had been removed; Charles Dickens, in his 1844 novel Martin Chuzzlewit, writes of the faded image of the dragon on the sign outside a village alehouse: “many a wintry storm of rain, snow, sleet, and hail, had changed his colour from a gaudy blue to a faint lack-lustre shade of grey.” These days lackluster is broadly used to describe anything blah, from a spiritless sensation to a humdrum hump day.
Examples of lackluster in a Sentence
Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
In a world first, Apple’s commercially lackluster Vision Pro virtual reality headset was successfully used to help perform a cataract surgery.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2026
Their lackluster showing in the doubleheader’s opener, a 10-3 loss, marked their 20th loss in 31 games.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026
Despite offering a lackluster library compared to other streaming services, Howdy’s affordability is valued among streaming subscribers who are weary of the industry’s growing use of commercials and rising prices.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lackluster
Cite this Entry
“Lackluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lackluster. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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lackluster
adjective
