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
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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
Too bad Illinoisans will not join in the illuminations at home for our nation’s semiquincentennial — at least not legally.
—
Brad Weisenstein, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
American Airlines said its pilots receive training on how to handle potential laser illumination incidents and are instructed to report any such events immediately.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Expressly used for events, the station’s Platform 3 morphed into the Edo-Tokyo Museum, complete with exhibitions, illuminations, food tastings, and the sense that both the Japanese capital’s past and future have always been at home in Ryogoku.
—Jonathan Delise, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
The moon is entirely visible at its peak illumination.
—Nathaniel Levine, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Brad Weisenstein, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
American Airlines said its pilots receive training on how to handle potential laser illumination incidents and are instructed to report any such events immediately.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Expressly used for events, the station’s Platform 3 morphed into the Edo-Tokyo Museum, complete with exhibitions, illuminations, food tastings, and the sense that both the Japanese capital’s past and future have always been at home in Ryogoku.
—Jonathan Delise, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
The moon is entirely visible at its peak illumination.
—Nathaniel Levine, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumination
Noun
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The moody Moon and wary Chiron trine across your talkative 3rd house and your convivial 11th house, guiding your explanations of complex issues.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Do not rely on verbal explanations alone.—
Peter S. Sachs,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The base model starts at $1,599, while the higher-end Studio Display XDR starts at $3,299 and adds features aimed at more demanding professional use cases, including higher brightness, mini-LED backlighting and a faster refresh rate.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
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The brightness of the 8K display is 150 times brighter than a typical planetarium and 10 times brighter than the digital projection at any local movie theater.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This fragrance is the essence of tranquility, designed to wrap your space in a cozy, comforting glow and invite a sense of peace into your daily rituals.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
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In 2026, sheer nail trends are stepping back into the spotlight–from milky finishes to delicate pinks that give your natural nail a polished glow.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Warm, ashen, and almost preternaturally glossy, consider the pop star's interpretation a blueprint for the mutable color trend.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
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Enhancing analytical precision and signal detection Accurate interpretation is essential for meaningful market research.—
Ascend Agency,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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Family circles will have wrapped themselves in the holy pleasures of the great occasion, and everywhere the grand old holiday will have been introduced with all the majesty and brilliancy which clings around the hallowed name of Christmas.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American-Statesman,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
From May through October, Horsefeather Social on the seventh floor delivers open-air drinks, firepit hangouts, and even more city views—arrive right before sunset for the best light.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
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Her silver earrings and two rings—one on each hand—worked as a point of light and the final seal of a stylish outfit that places Ha in the spotlight as one of the most promising style stars.—
María Diez,
Glamour,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In this illustration, the Claude AI app is seen in the app store on a phone on February 16, 2026 in New York City.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
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The image harkens back hunters using Black children as alligator bait, a practice portrayed in old illustrations and recorded in oral histories.—
Susan DeGrane,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And the 1932 prize was Langmuir's moment - the system’s recognition of one of its own and the public affirmation of a man who had always believed in his own brilliance.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
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Whether your baubles are gold, silver, diamond, or costume jewelry, here’s how to clean rings to maintain their brilliance and condition over time.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illumination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumination. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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