as in illumined
filled with much light
an intensely illuminated room is usually needed for producing live television shows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lit
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illustrated
to make plain or understandable
the museum's exhibit on the refraction of light really illuminated the subject for us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pictorialized
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration
no one knows for sure the identity of the artist who illuminated that medieval manuscript so beautifully
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in highlighted
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
the results of the statewide testing illuminated the need to place more focus on instruction in math and science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in inspired
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminated
Joe Rao, Space.com, 18 May 2026
Facade and interior of a pharmacy (pharmacie) with green illuminated sign, display windows and sales area visible through the windows in Paris, France, on March 19, 2026.
—Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Some models use illuminated displays while others rely on LCDs that need an external light for viewing.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
The researchers argue that the daily dataset has diagnostic potential, serving as an early warning system for economic cycles, a humanitarian planning tool, and a means of tracking ecological consequences as illuminated nights continue to change at an accelerating pace.
—Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
This illuminated design feature is reminiscent of the bar on some older Google devices like the Pixel C tablet and Chromebook Pixel.
—ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026
Food and drink Planter’s, the main restaurant, offers a solid breakfast spread—a parade of continental, local, and global dishes—while Terrace Italian serves pizza and pasta, best experienced at night under the covered seating beside the illuminated pool and beachfront gardens.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.
—Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
The 12-minute shows will feature 600 illuminated drones flying up to 660 feet in the sky.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 May 2026
Defensive issues have been illuminated.
—Ren Clayton, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Faces in the dusk, illuminated by screens.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
The Disney World version of Soarin’ Across America ends with Epcot’s Spaceship Earth attraction illuminated in red, white, and blue and Tinker Bell sprinkling pixie dust on the Florida theme park as patriotic fireworks explode overhead.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 18 May 2026
Alysa Liu, illuminated by a single spotlight at the center of the ice, skated and twirled and jumped and spun through the same routine that helped her capture an Olympic gold medal three months ago.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
My family's summer road trip had just gotten underway when an unfamiliar orange exclamation point illuminated the dashboard of our Honda Pilot.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
The original was only yards away in a small room, illuminated by studio lights.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Journalists captured his tears and the flash from their cameras illuminated a hooded figure walking behind him on crutches.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Adjective
Because a bright sky helps subdue Venus's glare, this is a good time to inspect the planet telescopically, though its gibbous disk remains rather small and approximately seven-eighths illuminated.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 18 May 2026
Facade and interior of a pharmacy (pharmacie) with green illuminated sign, display windows and sales area visible through the windows in Paris, France, on March 19, 2026.
—Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Some models use illuminated displays while others rely on LCDs that need an external light for viewing.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
The researchers argue that the daily dataset has diagnostic potential, serving as an early warning system for economic cycles, a humanitarian planning tool, and a means of tracking ecological consequences as illuminated nights continue to change at an accelerating pace.
—Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
This illuminated design feature is reminiscent of the bar on some older Google devices like the Pixel C tablet and Chromebook Pixel.
—ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026
Food and drink Planter’s, the main restaurant, offers a solid breakfast spread—a parade of continental, local, and global dishes—while Terrace Italian serves pizza and pasta, best experienced at night under the covered seating beside the illuminated pool and beachfront gardens.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.
—Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
The 12-minute shows will feature 600 illuminated drones flying up to 660 feet in the sky.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
Verb
Photographer Gary Hershorn captured a dazzling photo of Venus shining to the left of the crescent moon above the One World Trade Center on May 18, as the glow of dusk illuminated the New York City skyline.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 May 2026
Defensive issues have been illuminated.
—Ren Clayton, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Faces in the dusk, illuminated by screens.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
The Disney World version of Soarin’ Across America ends with Epcot’s Spaceship Earth attraction illuminated in red, white, and blue and Tinker Bell sprinkling pixie dust on the Florida theme park as patriotic fireworks explode overhead.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 18 May 2026
Alysa Liu, illuminated by a single spotlight at the center of the ice, skated and twirled and jumped and spun through the same routine that helped her capture an Olympic gold medal three months ago.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
My family's summer road trip had just gotten underway when an unfamiliar orange exclamation point illuminated the dashboard of our Honda Pilot.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
The original was only yards away in a small room, illuminated by studio lights.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Journalists captured his tears and the flash from their cameras illuminated a hooded figure walking behind him on crutches.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminated
Verb
-
Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes the decision is obvious, necessitated by the availability of gravitational slingshots from planets, as illustrated by the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 missions.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
19 May 2026
-
Most of them are illustrated, too, which helps with recall.—
Drew Goins,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The recent drone attacks on nuclear facilities in the Russia-Ukraine war and the attack on a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, have highlighted the seriousness of these attacks.—
Abhishek Bhardwaj,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
-
In its 2025 report on the 25 Best Countries for Expats, global expat community InterNations highlighted the destinations where international residents feel most satisfied, secure, and welcome.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Riley’s movies are entwined with—and, often, inspired by—music.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
He was eventually acquitted on the grounds that the real-life incident that inspired the film, which a student in one of his film workshops turned into a documentary, was in the pubic domain.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
In 2022, a troll installed at The Giants of Mandurah exhibit in Australia was lit on fire, per KUT News.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Rounding things out are the 20 illuminated squares housed in the door sill guards, the seventh of which is lit red.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Denise had explained that Djena didn’t have the necessary paperwork to enroll.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Special props to the jolly axe-throwing head of adventure, Nye Rees; personable Brasserie maitre d’, Javier Padron; and trainer Peter Sullivan, who explained the finer points of fasting for women whilst crucifying my glutes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The overall effect was magical; the pristine white of the orbs and the robed created a sheer background that further emphasized the already bright spectacle of the dancing, leaping players and the beasts alongside them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
In discussing his strategic priorities, England emphasized that the next phase for Target involves leveraging technology, specifically AI and automation, and modernizing how products are planned, moved and delivered.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The actress explained that becoming more educated and confident changed the dynamic between she and reporters.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
The district is highly educated and is considered to favor thoughtful candidates with extensive resumes and detailed policy platforms.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminated. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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