1
as in to inform
to give information to
the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of enlighten
Beto O’Rourke, thank you so much for joining The David Frum Show and for enlightening us about Texas today.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
But there really aren’t any incorrect decisions, as every show promises enlightening sonic rewards.
—Bret Saunders, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
David Frum, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
But there really aren’t any incorrect decisions, as every show promises enlightening sonic rewards.
—Bret Saunders, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlighten
Verb
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Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, said Kyiv had informed Israeli authorities about the vessels in advance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Luckily, the hunters brought the deer to a butcher who then informed EnCon police.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Terracycle, a recycling company with a major distribution center in Aurora, will also be on-site to educate the community about waste diversion and creating a zero-carbon footprint, according to the news release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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At the heart of this is also the aim to create an ecosystem for young filmmakers – one that empowers and educates them on the importance of marketing and distribution so that great stories don’t just get made, but truly reach audiences.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Federal authorities leading investigation The FBI is leading the criminal probe while the Secret Service is focusing on the suspect's behavioral profile, a senior law enforcement official briefed on the bicoastal investigation told USA TODAY.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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From there, his reaction was telling.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Every parent wants their child to succeed, but some parents, like Esther Wojcicki, are especially adept at inspiring greatness in their child.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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Fans of the Bulls will undoubtedly recognize a climactic moment in Running Point season two, but another subplot involving Waves’ captain, Marcus Winfield, and rising star, Dyson Gibbs, was surprisingly not inspired by one of the few blemishes of the Bulls’ 1990s dynasty.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Altman is a booster for San Francisco, advising its mayor and expanding OpenAI’s offices here, while Musk shuns the city and now lives in Texas.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
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Homes in the vicinity have been evacuated and members of the public are advised to avoid the area, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Sunday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gun smoke filled the air over the South Lawn after a 21 gun salute and hung in the air as those with seats near the front of the ceremony were instructed to sit down.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Hitters, no doubt instructed by their teams and aware of this new shift, have been taking more pitches.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enlighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlighten. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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