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enlightening 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈlīt-niŋ How to pronounce enlightening (audio)
Definition of enlighteningnext
as in instructive
providing useful information or knowledge an enlightening pamphlet about the major changes that consumers can expect from their cable and Internet service providers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

enlightening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of enlighten
1
as in informing
to give information to the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inspiring
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding many people around the world have been enlightened by the teachings of Gautama Buddha

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of enlightening
Adjective
Plus, a little more detail on Dexcom’s FDA pilot and an enlightening look at how scribes are working their way into medical education. — Mario Aguilar, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026 The Secret Order was canceled after one season, but the show wasn’t exactly working in tandem with Interview With the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat, which would’ve been more interesting or at least more enlightening. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 20 July 2026
Verb
But Taraborrelli believes that revisiting a moment in time when Jackson and his music became a cultural phenomenon, as well as enlightening new generations to his otherworldliness as an entertainer, should be a reason for unity. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for enlightening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlightening
  1. instructive
  2. informing
  3. inspiring
  4. informative
  5. telling
  6. educating
  7. educational
  8. advising
Adjective
  • Doris Sommer’s Bilingual Aesthetics was instructive for me here.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Our newsroom conversations revealed an instructive generational divide.
    — Kurt Shillinger, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of instructive
Verb
  • That story should be informing every interaction, from the next offer to the next underwriting decision.
    — Jess Turner, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Murray recommended documenting the issue first and informing your neighbor, then trimming only the relevant parts of the tree.
    — Blaise Mesa, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of informing
Verb
  • His first hit Sunday in Miami was a mammoth upper-deck shot to right field on the kind of awe-inspiring swing that has come much more easily for De Paula than in years past.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • In addition, Disney is supporting Imagination Library to further its mission of inspiring children to imagine their possibilities.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of inspiring
Adjective
  • The museum, spanning a former cell block wing, is a deeply informative and well curated journey through the evolution of the nation’s penal system.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The company also offers a family-friendly first-hand lobstering experience, an informative precursor to a waterside meal at Ogunquit Beach Lobster House.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of informative
Verb
  • Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued warnings to residents of Riyadh and the surrounding area early Saturday, telling people to remain indoors because of an aerial threat.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026
  • These illnesses often begin with symptoms that look very similar, so telling them apart can be tricky – especially when the beginning of cold and flu season in the fall can be the tail end of summer seasonal allergies.
    — Ann Sheehan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of telling
Verb
  • The early 2000s brought a strong focus on educating communities about the harms of secondhand smoke and successful policies to restrict smoking in public places.
    — Susan Morrisey, STAT, 15 Sep. 2026
  • McCarthy started training camp by educating players on the history of the steel industry and explaining how the best Steelers teams are a reflection of the city’s identity.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of educating
Adjective
  • Partying, drinking, Greek life, sports, and other forms of college life always risked undermining the educational project—and vice versa.
    — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The Emerging Filmmakers Program A long-standing partnership between HSDFF and Arkansas TV, the Emerging Filmmakers Program is one of HSDFF’s most cherished educational initiatives.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of educational
Verb
  • Now, in advising the UCAA, Abruzzo is pursuing the same broader objective through state labor agencies, such as Oregon’s Employment Relations Board, which primarily has jurisdiction over state and local government employers.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Sep. 2026
  • With the two events drawing large crowds, the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (DOT) is advising residents, commuters, visitors and fans to prepare for various traffic impacts.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of advising

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Cite this Entry

“Enlightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlightening. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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