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
The bright light of Alnitak, the easternmost star in Orion's Belt, illuminates the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) to the left of the Horsehead, while Alnilam — the middle star in the hunter's belt — glows blue-white in the upper left.
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 May 2026
By pairing Coltrane’s expansive sound world with two contemporary feature films, ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ and ‘Mother of George,’ the project illuminates diasporic stories of displacement, identity, tradition, and transformation across continents.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Beyond this general critique, Empire illuminates two specific dreams that the American media promotes.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
The idealized image drawn from legend shows Washington praying as a golden light illuminates him and his white horse, during the winter of 1777-8, at a time of uncertainty for the American Revolution.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
Amid the blossoming love between Pierre and Francis, one soldier grapples with a decision that illuminates the movie’s choice of title.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
That game illuminates the tension between self and community that has fueled the show’s longevity, and reflects the preoccupations of a country that has always been torn between the two.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
His struggle no longer illuminates much of anything.
—Judy Berman, Time, 5 May 2026
At the same time, faint light reflected from Earth softly illuminates the Moon, revealing mountains and craters in a dim twilight.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 May 2026
By pairing Coltrane’s expansive sound world with two contemporary feature films, ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ and ‘Mother of George,’ the project illuminates diasporic stories of displacement, identity, tradition, and transformation across continents.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Beyond this general critique, Empire illuminates two specific dreams that the American media promotes.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
The idealized image drawn from legend shows Washington praying as a golden light illuminates him and his white horse, during the winter of 1777-8, at a time of uncertainty for the American Revolution.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
Amid the blossoming love between Pierre and Francis, one soldier grapples with a decision that illuminates the movie’s choice of title.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
That game illuminates the tension between self and community that has fueled the show’s longevity, and reflects the preoccupations of a country that has always been torn between the two.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
His struggle no longer illuminates much of anything.
—Judy Berman, Time, 5 May 2026
At the same time, faint light reflected from Earth softly illuminates the Moon, revealing mountains and craters in a dim twilight.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminates
Verb
-
That 10-goal swing explains most of the standings drop.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Jerry Lanuzza, associate professor at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, explains how to store alcohol, whether alcohol goes bad, and how long different types will last.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, the episode illustrates ongoing tensions in Washington over the appropriate balance between accelerating development and mitigating risks.—
Dan Irvine,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Bapple emphasizes that the company’s work with Kalera, a vertical farming operator, illustrates this philosophy in practice.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
At its core, the novel emphasizes communal resilience and individual survivance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Botwin emphasizes that while there is no cure for PTSD or trauma responses, the key to managing them is to face the trauma, avoid self-destructive coping strategies, process feelings and practice self-compassion.—
Sarah Dewberry,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Part of the Who HQ series, this book educates readers about LGBTQ+ activist Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician elected in California.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The champions of La Liga will pay just under £70million ($93m) for Gordon and the deal lights the touchpaper for the summer transfer window (which isn’t actually open yet, although that’s just semantics).—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Fluorescent lights blasting down from the ceilings were never turned off.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
That signal clarifies where to focus, whether that means leading a visible project or intentionally building leadership skills.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Karp clarifies that yellow peppers come in next at 180 mg, more than 150-200 percent of the RDA for adults.—
Embry Roberts,
Martha Stewart,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
The movie’s first scene, in which the band plays a wedding at a lavish country estate, highlights his problem.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
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Prior Tesla Autopilot case highlights legal scrutiny The Florida crash comes as Tesla continues to face legal scrutiny over its Autopilot system.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Nikolaj Ehlers’ two-goal performance, including the overtime winner, for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final, inspires the re-litigation of his Winnipeg Jets tenure.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
-
Host Rachel Holt heads to Crane Beach in Ipswich to meet with Diedre and learn more about her style and what inspires her contemporary New England landscapes.—
Rachel Holt,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminates. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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