enlightened

en·light·ened | \ in-ˈlī-tᵊnd

How to pronounce enlightened (audio)

, en- \

Definition of enlightened

1 : freed from ignorance and misinformation an enlightened people an enlightened time

2 : based on full comprehension of the problems involved issued an enlightened ruling

Examples of enlightened in a Sentence

an enlightened approach to prison reform

Recent Examples on the Web The annual award goes to a business executive who contributes to their company with enlightened leadership that produces business results and has influence beyond the local area. — John Steppe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "West Bend Mutual CEO Steiner named Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year," 5 Feb. 2020 But the guarantees of free speech and freedom of religion are not only for those who are deemed sufficiently enlightened, advanced, or progressive. — Jeffrey Toobin, The New Yorker, "The Right Wing’s War on the L.G.B.T.Q. Community," 19 Sep. 2019 Jamison always writes in the first person, as present as her subjects; the reader is skeptical, enlightened, and moved right along with her. — David Canfield, EW.com, "Leslie Jamison talks life, love, and the beauty of earnestness," 19 Sep. 2019 But the guarantees of free speech and freedom of religion are not only for those who are deemed sufficiently enlightened, advanced, or progressive. — Natalie Johnson And Christina Maxouris, CNN, "The Arizona Supreme Court ruled two business owners did not have to make invitations for a same-sex wedding," 17 Sep. 2019 But the guarantees of free speech and freedom of religion are not only for those who are deemed sufficiently enlightened, advanced, or progressive. — NBC News, "Arizona artists win suit over same-sex wedding invitations," 17 Sep. 2019 But the guarantees of free speech and freedom of religion are not only for those who are deemed sufficiently enlightened, advanced, or progressive. — Jonathan J. Cooper, The Denver Post, "Arizona artists win suit over same-sex wedding invitations," 16 Sep. 2019 That such enlightened views were cast aside during much of the 20th century by despots (Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Mao) only makes more evident the truths of Hume and Smith. — WSJ, "What Did the Enlightenment Really Give Us?," 13 Apr. 2018 The more enlightened Supreme Court of the 1960s did bequeath some limited constraints on gerrymandering, still irksome to its practitioners. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper's magazine, "Election Bias," 6 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enlightened.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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enlightened self-interest

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Last Updated

11 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Enlightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlightened. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.

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