lackluster

adjective

lack·​lus·​ter ˈlak-ˌlə-stər How to pronounce lackluster (audio)
: lacking in sheen, brilliance, or vitality : dull, mediocre
The actor gave a lackluster performance.
lackluster noun

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web The latest bad news comes from lackluster income tax receipts, which are now expected to bring in $255 million less than projected over the current and incoming fiscal years, state economic forecasters said Thursday. Erin Cox, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 After a lackluster first half, the Warriors needed a dose of energy, and Green injected it. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 The low numbers are not surprising to Latino voting experts, who saw the lackluster turnout coming. Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 Overall, the performance of WPM stock with respect to the index has been lackluster. Trefis Team, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 She's faced opposition over lackluster fundraising amid allegations of autocratic rule, a lack of transparency, and interference with county party business. Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 After a lackluster first half that saw only 13 total points scored, the second half had much more offense. Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024 Haley back home:Nikki Haley faces a lackluster reception from South Carolina GOP voters Meagan Ingersoll, 31, grew up in North Carolina and has lived in South Carolina since college. USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Trump campaign leaders are looking to him to bring structure to RNC spending and fundraising, which has been lackluster in the last several election cycles under McDaniel. Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lackluster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lackluster was in 1600

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Dictionary Entries Near lackluster

Cite this Entry

“Lackluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lackluster. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lackluster

adjective
lack·​lus·​ter ˈlak-ˌləs-tər How to pronounce lackluster (audio)
: lacking in brightness, radiance, or interest : dull
a lackluster performance
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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