1
as in illumines
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explains
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 illustrates
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 emphasizes
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 educates
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 illuminates
Equipped with a wide shade and two lightbulbs, this lamp illuminates your desk from multiple angles, giving the area ample light.
—
Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
Like Franzen before her, Cash illuminates the inner workings of a modern family.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
String lighting illuminates the venue within a venue, which is equipped with farm-table seating for up to 120 guests, lush plant walls, its own bar (the tap list for which can be customized) and private restrooms.
—Brandon Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Jupiter in Leo illuminates where your ego, fear of judgment, or longing for external validation may have been steering your financial decisions.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025
Girls Play Dead illuminates how stories can trap people, how the impulse to rewrite a violation or rescue an abuser leads us away from the truth.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
Soft amber light illuminates gold jewelry, glossy lips, and brightly fabrics fluttering in the ocean breeze.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025
His leadership illuminates the extraordinary possibilities that emerge when commercial imagination is paired with cultural vision, civic engagement, social impact, and long-term stewardship.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Dec. 2025
Some refrigerators have a cleaning button that illuminates to remind you.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
Like Franzen before her, Cash illuminates the inner workings of a modern family.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
String lighting illuminates the venue within a venue, which is equipped with farm-table seating for up to 120 guests, lush plant walls, its own bar (the tap list for which can be customized) and private restrooms.
—Brandon Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Jupiter in Leo illuminates where your ego, fear of judgment, or longing for external validation may have been steering your financial decisions.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025
Girls Play Dead illuminates how stories can trap people, how the impulse to rewrite a violation or rescue an abuser leads us away from the truth.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
Soft amber light illuminates gold jewelry, glossy lips, and brightly fabrics fluttering in the ocean breeze.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025
His leadership illuminates the extraordinary possibilities that emerge when commercial imagination is paired with cultural vision, civic engagement, social impact, and long-term stewardship.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Dec. 2025
Some refrigerators have a cleaning button that illuminates to remind you.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminates
Verb
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As argued in his book Abundance, Ezra Klein explains how America's growth has been hindered by well-meaning regulations, permitting requirements, and veto points that have blocked affordable housing, infrastructure, and clean energy development.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
In a statement to PEOPLE, Zirkelbach explains her position in the conflict.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement No country illustrates the region’s dilemma better than Brazil, Latin America’s largest democracy.—
Oliver Stuenkel,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
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Andersen has also come up with a perfect ending, one that illustrates so much by saying so little.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Tensor said the system emphasizes contextual understanding rather than simple object detection, allowing the AI to adapt to complex and unpredictable real-world driving conditions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Samsung emphasizes that Brain Health is not intended to diagnose medical conditions.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 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,
9 Jan. 2026
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Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Painted Turtle, which provides a summer camp experience for kids with serious medical issues, and the Bridge School, which educates children with severe speech and physical disabilities.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This is about showing up consistently for what lights you up.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The Aries first quarter moon lights a fire under you to succeed.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But the resulting blow-by-blow account neither clarifies much about what was going through their minds nor brings them to life as characters.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
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Legislators passed a law in 2024 that essentially specifies emotional support animals are not service dogs and clarifies that a dog must be trained or is being trained to perform tasks or work for a person with a disability is allowed.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Juan Carlos de Oña, president of Centennial Bank in Southeast Florida, highlights Hialeah as a stable rental market with low vacancy.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
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In a YouTube video, the company also highlights a workflow spanning data collection, model post-training, and deployment, supported by professional post-training services.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The sales pitch rhetoric inspires few.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminates. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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