as in lamps
something that provides illumination
the floodlit skyscraper is one of the city's most beloved nighttime beacons
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in illumines
to supply with light
a lone lighthouse beacons the entrance to the island's only harbor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of beacons
J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
An upcoming launch into near-Earth orbit will test the use of such visual cues — including islands and archipelagos — as navigational beacons.
—Robin Roenker, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
To ensure compliance, their technology digs deeper than basic IP address recognition to monitor the exact place someone tries to place a wager, sifting through real-time data from sources such as GPS coordinates, cell phone towers, WiFi access points and Bluetooth beacons.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Large rock-face murals scattered across the desert in northern Saudi Arabia represent one of the most ambitious – and perilous – creative feats of ancient humans, with researchers arguing that the massive carvings acted as visual beacons, guiding people toward crucial water sources.
—New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
Stars are the glittering beacons of the universe — massive nuclear furnaces that light up the night sky and shape the very fabric of galaxies.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2025
After landing, bright orange paint, infrared beacons, GPS, and flashing lights help rescue teams locate the site quickly.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Residents work in its cafes and bakeries that have become community beacons.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
To improve safety, the transportation division has lengthened no passing zones and added flashing yellow beacons to no passing zones signs, Ronaldson said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
In a sea of early-season upsets, somehow the two beacons of stability are a team with no receivers and a team that lost two players in pregame warmups.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
An upcoming launch into near-Earth orbit will test the use of such visual cues — including islands and archipelagos — as navigational beacons.
—Robin Roenker, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
To ensure compliance, their technology digs deeper than basic IP address recognition to monitor the exact place someone tries to place a wager, sifting through real-time data from sources such as GPS coordinates, cell phone towers, WiFi access points and Bluetooth beacons.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Large rock-face murals scattered across the desert in northern Saudi Arabia represent one of the most ambitious – and perilous – creative feats of ancient humans, with researchers arguing that the massive carvings acted as visual beacons, guiding people toward crucial water sources.
—New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
Stars are the glittering beacons of the universe — massive nuclear furnaces that light up the night sky and shape the very fabric of galaxies.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2025
After landing, bright orange paint, infrared beacons, GPS, and flashing lights help rescue teams locate the site quickly.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Residents work in its cafes and bakeries that have become community beacons.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
To improve safety, the transportation division has lengthened no passing zones and added flashing yellow beacons to no passing zones signs, Ronaldson said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beacons
Noun
-
Elements such as lamps, wood paneling and tableware from 1925 are displayed alongside their contemporary counterparts.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The next day, devotees decorate using clay lamps, candles and other lights, drawing colorful patterns of flowers, powder, rice or sand on the floor, which is an artistic practice called rangoli that's meant to bring good luck.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cryer’s moment in the spotlight came under the bright lights of Chase Center in San Francisco, as a member of the Golden State Warriors, in front of thousands of NBA fans.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Sagapolutele said playing under Friday night lights reminds him of high school — all of a year ago.—
Jeff Faraudo,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lipan Point is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when golden light illuminates the canyon walls.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
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To reach that destination, trust is the North Star—one that illuminates how gen AI will make organizations, and their people, more successful.—
Erik Roth,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Brumbelow has found that cars with headlights rated highly by IIHS for visibility—which includes many but not all LED headlights—have 19% fewer nighttime crashes compared to cars with poor headlight visibility.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beacons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beacons. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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