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
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 illuminated
James Raia, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
From out of nowhere, bands of light form an illuminated rectangle around the car, light emanating from some unknown source suspended in the air.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
The collection helps to mark the design studio’s 20th anniversary, and builds upon Adelman’s portfolio of illuminated sculptures pairing delicate glass with mixed metals in organic compositions—a signature of hers.
—Katherine McGrath, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
Drivers reported stalling, sputtering and newly illuminated check engine lights shortly after refueling their vehicles.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
The expansive lobby impresses with a resplendent illuminated glass sculpture, a coffee bar, a lobby bar, and an on-site restaurant, Cavalier.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
Outside, nothing but darkness — and the illuminated lights of Dubai port.
—Francesca Street, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
The finish sits between matte and dewy to create an illuminated effect.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2026
A couple of models have illuminated buttons, but this is only the flagship EOS R1 and the high-performance EOS R3.
—James Abbott, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
To avoid crowds, head to the park in the early morning or near sunset, when blooms are illuminated by the rising and setting sun.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Dinner that night was set in a room illuminated by 24 lanterns.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Clapper illuminated the installation with lightning bolts to symbolize speed, protection and pride, and included a perforated skin mapping nearby streets.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
In an eerie scene captured on video Thursday, a first responder drove straight at a storm near Fairview, where flashes of lightning illuminated a giant funnel that appeared to reach the ground.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
In an eerie scene captured on video Thursday, a first responder drove straight at a storm near the western Oklahoma town of Fairview, where flashes of lightning illuminated a giant funnel that appeared to reach the ground.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
In a scene captured on video, a first responder drove straight at a storm near the western Oklahoma town of Fairview, where flashes of lightning illuminated a giant funnel that appeared to reach the ground.
—Kathy McCormack, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Lee also snapped a wide-angle shot of the moon as direct sunlight illuminated a thin crescent of its outer disk, mere minutes before the onset of totality, as the Beijing skyline stretched out below, pouring light into the night sky.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The top-line stereo system is packaged with a half-dozen options, including head-up display and various illuminated badges and other accoutrements.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
From out of nowhere, bands of light form an illuminated rectangle around the car, light emanating from some unknown source suspended in the air.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
The collection helps to mark the design studio’s 20th anniversary, and builds upon Adelman’s portfolio of illuminated sculptures pairing delicate glass with mixed metals in organic compositions—a signature of hers.
—Katherine McGrath, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
Drivers reported stalling, sputtering and newly illuminated check engine lights shortly after refueling their vehicles.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
The expansive lobby impresses with a resplendent illuminated glass sculpture, a coffee bar, a lobby bar, and an on-site restaurant, Cavalier.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
Outside, nothing but darkness — and the illuminated lights of Dubai port.
—Francesca Street, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
The finish sits between matte and dewy to create an illuminated effect.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2026
A couple of models have illuminated buttons, but this is only the flagship EOS R1 and the high-performance EOS R3.
—James Abbott, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
These clocks would rely on thorium atoms, which oscillate in energy when illuminated with light at a specific wavelength.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
To avoid crowds, head to the park in the early morning or near sunset, when blooms are illuminated by the rising and setting sun.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Dinner that night was set in a room illuminated by 24 lanterns.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Clapper illuminated the installation with lightning bolts to symbolize speed, protection and pride, and included a perforated skin mapping nearby streets.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
In an eerie scene captured on video Thursday, a first responder drove straight at a storm near Fairview, where flashes of lightning illuminated a giant funnel that appeared to reach the ground.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
In an eerie scene captured on video Thursday, a first responder drove straight at a storm near the western Oklahoma town of Fairview, where flashes of lightning illuminated a giant funnel that appeared to reach the ground.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
In a scene captured on video, a first responder drove straight at a storm near the western Oklahoma town of Fairview, where flashes of lightning illuminated a giant funnel that appeared to reach the ground.
—Kathy McCormack, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Lee also snapped a wide-angle shot of the moon as direct sunlight illuminated a thin crescent of its outer disk, mere minutes before the onset of totality, as the Beijing skyline stretched out below, pouring light into the night sky.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminated
Verb
-
Scenes from across the tournament have illustrated exactly what this competition means to players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Japan, Taiwan, and so many others.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
-
This deluxe two-volume box set includes both hardcover manga volumes illustrated by Miyazaki, as well as a bonus Studio Ghibli poster.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Earlier in the school year, BPS officials highlighted gains in chronic absenteeism — defined as students missing 10% or more of school days a year — across nearly all grade levels and student groups in the 2024-25 year from the previous year.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When Biden dropped out and Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, pundits highlighted that influencers were now molding the cultural conversation across the country.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Is there a more apt word than ‘inspired’?—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Leafing through last year’s Oscar issue, Homer French was inspired enough to paint an Oscar lying among the King Clone creosote, an 11,700-year-old plant considered one of the oldest living organisms on Earth.—
Michael Slenske,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Evan Makkai and Kaden Tisdall, in particular, lit it up through that 5-minute, 22-second stretch to close out the half, scoring 8 and 6 points, respectively.—
Alissa Noe,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
SpaceX has lit many more candles than needed for its birthdays since it was founded by Elon Musk in 2002.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wood took her own life after struggling with grief and the emotional trauma of witnessing her husband’s murder, her daughter explained to the judge.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
An interest in evening workouts is on the rise nationwide, the workout expert explained.—
Hunter Boyce,
AJC.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wasserman Schultz emphasized that her biggest concern is the dark web, where networks of predators buy and sell child pornography while evading detection.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Lilienthal emphasized that robots require physical, real-world data to understand movement and interaction with objects.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The highest-risk group is more often female, highly educated, and well-compensated, with roles like lawyers, financial analysts, and software developers bearing far more exposure than many manual or in‑person roles such as cooks, bartenders, or mechanics.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Kids are better educated in their first two years at community college anyway, the UC professor said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fortunately, larger fuel sources like dense vegetation remain moist from heavy winter rains, and winds are predicted to be relatively light, conditions that together limit the danger of fast-spreading wildfires.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The Shanghai Mule is a light, fizzy combination of vodka and ginger with a touch of complexity from Chinese five-spice.—
Henri Hollis,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminated. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
