1
as in to inform
to give information to
the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
many people around the world have been enlightened by the teachings of Gautama Buddha
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of enlighten
This style of theater both enlightens and entertains, each actor stepping out of the ensemble inside Kelleher’s direction that teeters on the edge of heavy-handidness without ever getting there.
—
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
However, those cynics didn’t sound as enlightened when the Rockets were up 18 early in the fourth quarter Saturday night.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
So, read books, all the way through, and discover hidden worlds, nuanced characters and complex arguments that will enlighten you, inspire joy and ignite empathy that will endure.
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2026
The meal includes intellectual and philosophical discussions that enlighten your mind and offer food for thought.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
However, those cynics didn’t sound as enlightened when the Rockets were up 18 early in the fourth quarter Saturday night.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
So, read books, all the way through, and discover hidden worlds, nuanced characters and complex arguments that will enlighten you, inspire joy and ignite empathy that will endure.
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2026
The meal includes intellectual and philosophical discussions that enlighten your mind and offer food for thought.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlighten
Verb
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Its founding principles—informed by an environmentally-conscious ethos and values which ‘protect the islands, support local communities, and do business in a…fair and future-focused way,’ says Dixon—mirrored those at Nikoi, and still hold strong today.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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These experiences eventually informed the vision behind The Tagline Group.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One floor underground is a labyrinth of snazzy, high-tech equipment designed to bio-hack, educate and optimize performance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of them told Felder that the precinct had received a complaint about a trespasser at the synagogue.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Minnesota victim wants accountability After she was injured, Stotko told the city council in her community of Hastings, Minnesota, about her crash to push for a stricter ordinance.—
Sarah Raza,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The charity event helps raise money for the Sixers Youth Foundation, a nonprofit started back in 2015, whose mission is to use the power of basketball and the influence of the Sixers to inspire future generations.—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This was, after all, the woman who had advised me not to hold her hand on the way to fifth grade because doing so would only increase my social isolation.—
Lena Dunham,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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A week after the crash, police are advising anyone drinking to either call a friend or use a rideshare to get home safely.—
Heath Kalb,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jurors were later instructed to disregard large portions of the girl’s testimony, which the appellate panel said was likely confusing to the jury.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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LeVota did implement a cap on commercial properties by instructing county staff to manually adjust the values of more than 6,200 spaces.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enlighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlighten. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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