1
as in explanation
a statement that makes something clear
the candidate's so-called illuminations of his views on a number of controversial issues left many voters in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in brightness
the quality or state of having or giving off light
in that clime the illumination of the full moon on a clear night is so bright that you can practically read by it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
a steady illumination from the flashlight was all I had while changing the tire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illumination
The staircase wound down, down, down, light provided by illumination globes strung along the walls.
—
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 May 2025
This month's full moon reaches peak illumination at 12:56 p.m. EDT (17:56 GMT) and is known as the 'Flower Moon' to some in North America and Europe owing to the abundant seasonal wildflower blooms that appear during this time of year.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2025
Each bulb comes with eight high-efficiency LEDs and a powerful battery to provide up to 10 hours of illumination after just eight hours of sun exposure.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
The book’s title is its governing metaphor: There are no moments of total illumination here, just a beam shining briefly on a target before scanning restlessly onward.
—Sam Worley, Vulture, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 May 2025
This month's full moon reaches peak illumination at 12:56 p.m. EDT (17:56 GMT) and is known as the 'Flower Moon' to some in North America and Europe owing to the abundant seasonal wildflower blooms that appear during this time of year.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2025
Each bulb comes with eight high-efficiency LEDs and a powerful battery to provide up to 10 hours of illumination after just eight hours of sun exposure.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025
The book’s title is its governing metaphor: There are no moments of total illumination here, just a beam shining briefly on a target before scanning restlessly onward.
—Sam Worley, Vulture, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumination
Noun
-
But Jones was informed after arriving at the clinic that her appointment had been canceled without explanation.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
21 June 2025
-
Patterson’s explanation On August 1, three days after the lunch, Patterson was in hospital, having been convinced by doctors to stay after earlier discharging herself against their advice.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
The brightness and color reproduction are lackluster, almost as if Acer deliberately found the most middling budget screen possible.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2025
-
To qualify as a bolide, an incoming meteor must reach the brightness of Venus, which, like the moon, is often visible in the daytime sky.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
The sunscreen’s lightweight formula gives my skin a radiant glow instead of a chalky finish.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
28 June 2025
-
To execute his signature summer glow, Turner reaches for Chanel Les Beiges Water Tint for fresh, sheer coverage.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Thomas' interpretation and feelings toward the 150-year-old law have been conveyed numerous times in past Court decisions.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
-
Church’s presented great new interpretations of their signature kiltie, Shanghai monk-strap shoe.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Pinnacle of splendor On Sunday morning, April 27, Venus comes up in total darkness while shining at its greatest brilliancy (magnitude –4.7).—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
So, astronomers have come up with a compromise regarding the geometry of the sun's illumination angle on Venus' disk versus its distance from Earth to determine the time of Venus' greatest brilliancy.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The celebrated Scottish film and screen actor, who was regarded as one of the brightest lights of his generation, died at the age of 40 from AIDS in 1990, and asked that the cause of his death be publicized to promote awareness and acceptance of the illness.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 June 2025
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And yet the boundary between death and life, between this world and another, was blurring for both of us in the gray light of London, and my mother’s underlying fear of returning to Kolkata must have been instilling fears in me.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Noun
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An illustrator and illustrations teacher at the time, Jacobsen learned of Machine Head, a metal fabrication shop in the Crossroads, through Arts Upload, a PBS show featuring local art.—
Madeline King,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2025
-
Featuring illustrations by Nenka Myers, the book will arrive in spring 2026.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Exactly in that single sentence, all of Matt's brilliance tied up into this one thing.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
The duo propelled the decor into the ’50s and ’60s, celebrating the brilliance of Italian masters Giò Ponti, Nanda Vigo, Gae Aulenti and Osvaldo Borsani.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illumination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumination. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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