as in illumined
filled with much light
an intensely illuminated room is usually needed for producing live television shows
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in inspired
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminated
Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
The illuminated blueberry, a longtime symbol of the town's identity, will be lowered at midnight outside Town Hall as part of a celebration that begins earlier in the evening with live music and fireworks.
—Eva Andersen, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Take a tour of Trinity's Old Library to see the legendary Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript dating back to the ninth century.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
At the time, the moon was in a waning phase and about 78% illuminated, bright enough to produce a concentrated reflection across the sea, especially near the Florida Keys and Cuba.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Since then, the pinecone has evolved into a 70-pound, 6-foot-tall, illuminated metallic pinecone to which thousands flock to enjoy every year.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 27 Dec. 2025
Bacteria in illuminated areas were killed by reactive oxygen species, while those in masked regions survived.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
Every year the company sponsors a pickle drop for New Year’s Eve where an illuminated pickle is dropped into a tank of water that looks like a pickle jar.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
Stroll through the illuminated, whimsical winter woods At Light in the Forest, venture on a mile-long trail past ponds, woodlands and fields.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Dec. 2025
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
He felt protected by the same serenity that from time immemorial has illuminated the souls of warriors and martyrs.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
The glow of hundreds of candles illuminated the snowy residential street where Good had been killed.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Pulsating waves illuminated the sky; columns of light appeared and disappeared like music notes from a composer pounding the keys of a piano.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The headlights of the long-haul trucks illuminated Joshua trees and darting bats.
—Hazlitt, 7 Jan. 2026
By gathering second- and thirdhand traces and elusive sources and data, historians have illuminated communities in the forests of the Kongo region, the deltas of West Africa, the mangroves of Cuba, and the swamps of the Carolinas.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The movie, at its most vigorous and most menacing, is also illuminated with mystery and wonder.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Key features of the self-standing stick vacuum are the tangle-free illuminated head, three suction levels, and multiple attachments like the upholstery tool for streamlined cleaning.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
The illuminated blueberry, a longtime symbol of the town's identity, will be lowered at midnight outside Town Hall as part of a celebration that begins earlier in the evening with live music and fireworks.
—Eva Andersen, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
Take a tour of Trinity's Old Library to see the legendary Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript dating back to the ninth century.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
At the time, the moon was in a waning phase and about 78% illuminated, bright enough to produce a concentrated reflection across the sea, especially near the Florida Keys and Cuba.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Since then, the pinecone has evolved into a 70-pound, 6-foot-tall, illuminated metallic pinecone to which thousands flock to enjoy every year.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 27 Dec. 2025
Bacteria in illuminated areas were killed by reactive oxygen species, while those in masked regions survived.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
Every year the company sponsors a pickle drop for New Year’s Eve where an illuminated pickle is dropped into a tank of water that looks like a pickle jar.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
Stroll through the illuminated, whimsical winter woods At Light in the Forest, venture on a mile-long trail past ponds, woodlands and fields.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Dec. 2025
Verb
The family ran a PVC pipe beneath the structure to tunnel an extension cord through, plugging in a large LED light each night that illuminated the ice from within.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
He felt protected by the same serenity that from time immemorial has illuminated the souls of warriors and martyrs.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
The glow of hundreds of candles illuminated the snowy residential street where Good had been killed.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Pulsating waves illuminated the sky; columns of light appeared and disappeared like music notes from a composer pounding the keys of a piano.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The headlights of the long-haul trucks illuminated Joshua trees and darting bats.
—Hazlitt, 7 Jan. 2026
By gathering second- and thirdhand traces and elusive sources and data, historians have illuminated communities in the forests of the Kongo region, the deltas of West Africa, the mangroves of Cuba, and the swamps of the Carolinas.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The movie, at its most vigorous and most menacing, is also illuminated with mystery and wonder.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminated
Verb
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The same, meanwhile, is not the case in film, where animation is faring well, as illustrated in the latest box office figures, which were released yesterday.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Separate high-level meetings in East Asia illustrated the tricky balancing act for longtime US allies seeking to insulate themselves from an increasingly unpredictable White House.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The team also highlighted that the zinc-cellulose antenna is rolled up and placed inside a capsule along with the drug to be delivered.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
One of my favorite stops at Basin that highlighted all the benefits of a thermotherapy circuit was the Kneipp pool.—
Meaghan Kenny,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then keep scrolling to shop more picks inspired by celebrities.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Anderon’s longtime collaborator John Nollet swept her icy-blonde hair into a chic chignon with a deep side part, inspired by a modern take on a bouffant style.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Keep your closet well-lit and modify it with hooks, bins, and more.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
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Some residents of the building have reported that the fire may have been sparked by someone who intentionally lit their mattress on fire, according to WPIX.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In an interview with Interesting Engineering, UEL researcher Daehyun Kim explained that SCARABS focuses on exploration reliability rather than experimental payloads.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Night vision goggles worn by the pilot and hoist operator give a tube of vision, explained Atkins.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Zeug emphasized the system’s readiness.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
This, Johnson emphasized, is now a new season.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The study population was also largely White, relatively highly educated and had few co-occurring conditions, Holtzheimer said — so how SAINT may work for more diverse groups or ones with more than one diagnosis isn’t fully clear, though this wasn’t the point of the study.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026
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The strategy includes expanding the use of AI into the curriculum, professional development of the staff in using AI, having an acceptable use policy for students, and ensuring that students are educated in the responsible use of the technology.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Along with a soul patch and longer hair, Garfield donned a black flat cap, light sunglasses, and a bright blue blazer in the snap.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
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Colors have an emotional content, whether the actual hue, how vibrant or grey and how light or dark.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminated. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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