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
Starting in November, the Festival of Trees illuminates the space with a forest of evergreens, each individually decorated by local contributors.
—
Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Scorpio season illuminates the balance of power and depth in your closest connections.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
The scene illuminates the story’s preoccupation not with the post-#MeToo world but with performance, hints of which can be found throughout the film.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
The frame features a front light that gently illuminates the screen when the room is bright, but it cannot be controlled directly.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
The magical Super Full Moon in Taurus illuminates the sky and highlights our sensual desires.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 21 Oct. 2025
Lipan Point is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when golden light illuminates the canyon walls.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
To reach that destination, trust is the North Star—one that illuminates how gen AI will make organizations, and their people, more successful.
—Erik Roth, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
The Revitalizing Serum, made with mostly natural ingredients including red camellia extract, smooths and illuminates the skin while its counterpart—the Revitalizing Eye Serum—wakes up the gaze.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Scorpio season illuminates the balance of power and depth in your closest connections.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
The scene illuminates the story’s preoccupation not with the post-#MeToo world but with performance, hints of which can be found throughout the film.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
The frame features a front light that gently illuminates the screen when the room is bright, but it cannot be controlled directly.
—PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
The magical Super Full Moon in Taurus illuminates the sky and highlights our sensual desires.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 21 Oct. 2025
Lipan Point is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when golden light illuminates the canyon walls.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
To reach that destination, trust is the North Star—one that illuminates how gen AI will make organizations, and their people, more successful.
—Erik Roth, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
The Revitalizing Serum, made with mostly natural ingredients including red camellia extract, smooths and illuminates the skin while its counterpart—the Revitalizing Eye Serum—wakes up the gaze.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminates
Verb
-
Anne Irfan explains how the 1956 Israeli occupation of Gaza informs the present and future.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Gaia explains that the Merlot vineyards planted almost 30 years ago no longer offer the consistency necessary to produce their top end wine.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The anecdote also illustrates a leadership philosophy Weeks has maintained throughout his tenure.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Pacific transit route The family’s experience illustrates how Ecuador has become a critical route in the cocaine trade.—
David Culver,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This new approach emphasizes automation and teamwork among machines, focusing on precision instead of relying on large numbers of troops.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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The whole team emphasizes the importance of finding partnerships that are authentic, pointing out that fans and viewers would quickly smell if an artist and content, or an artist and a brand, were forced together for pure financial considerations.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
David M. Ewalt,
Scientific American,
7 Nov. 2025
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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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Everything is dark around us, but the collision itself is a source of energy and the flash of it lights us up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
These are for the artful burner, someone who lights a candle as much for its vibe as its aroma.—
Michael Stefanov,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Liu clarifies that despite being published under a Japanese pseudonym, Terao Tetsuya, the author is Taiwanese.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Proposition 410 asked voters to ratify language that clarifies language on mayoral term limits.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Use Natural Materials A natural stone wall-mount sink in a bathroom highlights the use of earthy materials.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Nov. 2025
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The plea—legally impossible but symbolically potent—highlights the limits of judicial authority over prison placements, the strain of the mental health crises inside the federal system, and the uneasy intersection between acts of political violence and debates about personal autonomy at life’s end.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And then that usually inspires another melody and other parts of the song.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
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What, these days, inspires you to hit the gym or work hard or pursue success in other ways?—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illuminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminates. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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