luminaries
Eminent figures shine
Luminaries are people who have achieved distinction in a particular field—the brightest lights in their domain: The conference attracted luminaries from across the tech industry.
The word comes from a term for celestial bodies that give off light, and the figurative sense preserves that glow: luminaries illuminate their fields as stars illuminate the sky.
A luminary can also be a lamp or light source, though this use is now rare outside of decorative contexts like paper luminaries lining a walkway.
Representative small images
- legendsTraditional stories or icons
- greatsOutstanding famous individuals
- giantsBeings of immense stature
- titansDominant powerful figures
pillars · dignitaries · notables · eminences · paragons · exemplars · role models · torchbearers
Those who anticipate change
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- trailblazersThose who open territory
- thought leadersInfluential experts shaping discourse
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
masters · authorities · sages · gurus · mentors · leading lights · scholars · intellectuals
Luminous celestial bodies
- celestial bodiesObjects in outer space
- heavenly bodiesAstronomical objects in space
- skyVisible overhead expanse
- constellationsRecognized celestial groupings
cosmos · night sky · zodiac · astrology · astronomy · starlight · firmament · moon
Canonized religious figures
- mysticsSpiritual insight seekers
- gurusVenerated teachers or experts
- prophetsProclaimers of sacred truth
- sagesProfoundly learned people
bodhisattvas · holy figures · spiritual guides · teachers · masters · seers · oracles · mahatmas
icons
Representative small images
- legendsTraditional stories or icons
- greatsOutstanding famous individuals
- giantsBeings of immense stature
titans · pillars · dignitaries · notables · eminences · paragons · exemplars · role models · torchbearers · standard-bearers
visionaries
Those who anticipate change
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- trailblazersThose who open territory
- thought leadersInfluential experts shaping discourse
innovators · masters · authorities · sages · gurus · mentors · leading lights · scholars · intellectuals · Nobel laureates
stars
Luminous celestial bodies
- celestial bodiesObjects in outer space
- heavenly bodiesAstronomical objects in space
- skyVisible overhead expanse
constellations · cosmos · night sky · zodiac · astrology · astronomy · starlight · firmament · moon · sun
saints
Canonized religious figures
- mysticsSpiritual insight seekers
- gurusVenerated teachers or experts
- prophetsProclaimers of sacred truth
sages · bodhisattvas · holy figures · spiritual guides · teachers · masters · seers · oracles · mahatmas · imams
maestros
Expert musical directors
- virtuososSupremely skilled performers
- auteursDirectors with recognizable styles
- cultural iconsWidely recognized societal symbols
- astrologyastrology, zodiac, horoscope, horoscopes, birth chart
- decorative lightsstring lights, fairy lights, Christmas lights, icicle lights, rope lights
- event decorcenterpieces, centerpiece, floral arrangements, flower arrangements, table settings
- famous peoplecelebrity, star, stars, legend, icon
- holiday craftsChristmas ornaments, Christmas stockings, Christmas trees, Christmas cards, Easter eggs
- holiday decorornaments, garland, wreaths, ornament hooks, garlands
luminariesnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
unknowns · nonentities · obscurities · no-names · has-beens
luminariesnonentities
Unimportant, forgettable people
lightweights · nobodies · hangers-on · followers · footnotes
illuminate, illumination, illuminated, luminary, illuminating, luminescent, luminescence, illumine, illuminates