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
Robert Lea, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The report recommends several short- and long-term safety measures to include new signs for drivers and trail users, lighting beacons at crossings and reducing the speed limit to 50 mph from 55 mph south of Northwest 126th Avenue.
—Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Work will focus on updating all traffic signals and street lighting; installing and replacing rectangular rapid flash beacons; constructing curb extensions; upgrading utilities; and creating additional bus shelters at the Kenmore Place stop.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
To bring attention to pedestrians crossing the street, the public works team will also add rapid flashing beacons when the road crosses the north leg of Wenonga Road.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
Described as experienced snowmobilers, the group had been prepared for a day of backcountry exploration and were well-equipped, even having avalanche beacons/transceivers.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
The future beacons for the coexistence of the two methods, contrary to one replacing the other.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
The biennial’s rooms feel like a collection of pre-internet distress signals, low-level emergency beacons, messages in bottles.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
Those beacons will pinpoint the exact location of the weapon, which generates fear.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
Rohan was first, for Rohan Shivakumar, the Yale student who first analyzed it, and Gondor was next, because, well — the beacons were lit!
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The report recommends several short- and long-term safety measures to include new signs for drivers and trail users, lighting beacons at crossings and reducing the speed limit to 50 mph from 55 mph south of Northwest 126th Avenue.
—Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Work will focus on updating all traffic signals and street lighting; installing and replacing rectangular rapid flash beacons; constructing curb extensions; upgrading utilities; and creating additional bus shelters at the Kenmore Place stop.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
To bring attention to pedestrians crossing the street, the public works team will also add rapid flashing beacons when the road crosses the north leg of Wenonga Road.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
Described as experienced snowmobilers, the group had been prepared for a day of backcountry exploration and were well-equipped, even having avalanche beacons/transceivers.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
The future beacons for the coexistence of the two methods, contrary to one replacing the other.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
The biennial’s rooms feel like a collection of pre-internet distress signals, low-level emergency beacons, messages in bottles.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
Those beacons will pinpoint the exact location of the weapon, which generates fear.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beacons
Noun
-
Keep Storage Items Dust Free Keep small furniture, lamps, and other decor from collecting dust in the attic or garage by covering them with an old pillowcase.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Branches turn into lamps and shower heads, while reclaimed hardwoods become chairs, desks, and tables.—
Stephanie Rafanelli,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Riders are asked to wear a helmet, have bike lights, call out cars to fellow riders, stay in one lane and obey the rules of the road.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
When his playing days ended, the bright lights of Los Angeles came calling, and the rest is history.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His latest book, Chief Executive Coach, illuminates many of these problems.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
His passion for the medium and its great artists illuminates this volume, which is shaped around a list of 100 Black films contextualized in a series of critical short essays by Clark, providing a lively and robust history of global Black filmmaking.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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 22 Feb. 2026.
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