enlightening

adjective

en·​light·​en·​ing in-ˈlīt-niŋ How to pronounce enlightening (audio)
-ˈlī-tᵊn-iŋ
en-
Synonyms of enlighteningnext
: providing or tending to provide knowledge, understanding, or insight
a very enlightening discussion
… he takes readers on enlightening excursions through the nature of Judaism, Hegelian philosophy, wherever his curiosity heads.George Johnson
enlighteningly adverb

Examples of enlightening in a Sentence

an enlightening pamphlet about the major changes that consumers can expect from their cable and Internet service providers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But also very enlightening and [a] profound time of self-reflection and fear, processing and meditation. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 June 2026 His skepticism is enlightening, as few artists feel better positioned to discuss the gap between what looks threatening and what turns out to be liberating. Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 The failure to analyze or even acknowledge countless comic interpretations of presidents in contexts that lack Lorne Michaels is so thoroughly bizarre that the entire documentary becomes more head-scratching than enlightening. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026 In the eyes of Ana Maria Alvarez, who heads up the dance program in UC San Diego’s Department of Theatre and Dance, art-making can be both enlightening and healing. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for enlightening

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enlightening was in 1574

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enlightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlightening. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on enlightening

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster