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
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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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Marketing informs customer experience strategy, supports product prioritization, shapes pricing decisions, identifies emerging growth opportunities and helps leadership understand how customer expectations are evolving.
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Having a location informs the characters… like that vibe in Alexander’s Payne’s films.
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
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Texas, which educates roughly 1 in 10 of the nation’s public school students, has been at the forefront of a charge by conservatives to incorporate more religion into classrooms.
Verb
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This is how a San Diegan tells time, but yes.
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Based on photos and videos from Venezuela, the damage appears to be quite extensive, reporter John Otis tells Up First.
Verb
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Pay attention to who celebrates your growth, inspires you and supports your endeavors.
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
Verb
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To get around the closure, Caltrans District 3 advises motorists to merge onto westbound Interstate 80, take the Kidwell Road exit, turn left onto Kidwell Road and then turn left onto the eastbound Interstate 80 on-ramp.
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Don’t wait to go to a health care provider, the CDC advises.
Verb
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When Little John struggles to describe his dream girl, Robin instructs his protegee to sketch an image with words.
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The resolution by Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins instructs Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to pursue clawing back money from the Host Committee if the county can determine federal dollars are now paying for expenses that Miami-Dade agreed to cover with its $21 million allocation.
Cite this Entry
“Enlightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlightens. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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