1
as in informs
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 educates
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 enlightens
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
The Harlem Book of the Dead, conceived and nurtured by Camille Billops, cherishes that remembrance and enlightens us as only memory can.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Hopefully, that prepares them to be active and engaged citizens of the democracy that George Washington fought so hard to secure and enlightens them to do something with their lives that will make the world a better place.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2025
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The Harlem Book of the Dead, conceived and nurtured by Camille Billops, cherishes that remembrance and enlightens us as only memory can.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Hopefully, that prepares them to be active and engaged citizens of the democracy that George Washington fought so hard to secure and enlightens them to do something with their lives that will make the world a better place.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlightens
Verb
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Lord John informs his sad-sack drunk son William that his cousin Ben died and Ben’s surprise widow Amaranthus and baby Trevor appeared at his doorstep.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
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Their work also informs creative direction, messaging, and timing across channels, helping teams apply audience insights in ways that can inform more aligned campaign decisions.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
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The seat belonging to David Ko sat empty once again during the March 10 school board meeting of Niles Township High School District 219, which educates students in Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove and Niles.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The alert tells the pilots exactly what to do to avoid the collision.—
Clara McMichael,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
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The state Department of Public Health did not respond in time for this article regarding how many nursing homes have closed in the state in the last two years and what the agency tells families in such a transition.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
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Office storage rarely inspires much emotion, but Audo Copenhagen’s Crescent system gets close.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To reduce the chances of snakes around your home, TPWD advises keeping your lawn trimmed low and removing brush, woodpiles, rocks, and debris where snakes and rodents may hide.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
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Nationwide advises talking to your tax preparer to determine whether this strategy makes sense for you.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a routine step near the end of a flight, the air traffic controller handling approaches into LaGuardia instructs the pilots of Air Canada Express Flight 8646 pilots to contact the airport’s control tower, which will guide them the rest of the way.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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Daisy instructs her to focus on making beds and forget the laundry, but Alesia can’t help herself from folding one million towels in the middle of the boat 40 minutes before the guest’s arrival.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enlightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlightens. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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