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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
Priya Vulchi, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The initial drop in mortgage rates last week had housing watchers cheering a potential boost to the lackluster spring market.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
Despite its lackluster audio track, the 0-60 mph sprint takes about 7.5 seconds—about average in the segment.
—Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Looking ahead, main challenges include creating avenues for growth in China, where the market has been crippled by the ongoing real estate slowdown and lackluster consumer confidence.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lackluster
Cite this Entry
“Lackluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lackluster. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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lackluster
adjective
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