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Definition of lackluster

lackluster

/ˈlækˌlʌs.tɚ/
(UK: lacklustre)
lack · lus · ter
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lackluster Lexical Profile

lackluster Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

American Lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring.

Example

"The team delivered a lackluster performance in the final quarter of the championship game."

2

American Lacking brightness, sheen, or radiance (especially of eyes or hair).

Example

"Months of poor nutrition and stress had left the stray dog with a dry, lackluster coat."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

lack
lackadaisical
lackey
lackluster
lacquer
lacrosse
lactate

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded by William Shakespeare in his play As You Like It (1599), this compound combines the verb lack ('to be without') and the noun luster ('shine' or 'brilliance'), originally used to describe a fool's dull, lifeless eyes.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lackluster. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lackluster
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