as in instructive
providing useful information or knowledge
the show is an illuminating tutorial on ways to prepare popular dishes using wholesome ingredients
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in illumining
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explaining
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 illustrating
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 highlighting
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 educating
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 illuminating
Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Talankin, under the guise of his job, took hours upon hours of footage documenting this indoctrination, which the film presents as both illuminating and soul-crushing.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
It's also equipped with a self-illuminating hose reel that can provide a light source in dark conditions and also help guide firefighters to safety or to an injured person.
—New Atlas, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminating
Adjective
Perhaps the most illuminating example of how not to be California comes, naturally enough, from Florida.
—Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Talankin, under the guise of his job, took hours upon hours of footage documenting this indoctrination, which the film presents as both illuminating and soul-crushing.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
This cute ceramic tree with a bunny on top and LED lights is a nice choice for illuminating your home as Easter Sunday draws to a close.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
It's also equipped with a self-illuminating hose reel that can provide a light source in dark conditions and also help guide firefighters to safety or to an injured person.
—New Atlas, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminating
Adjective
-
That silence was also instructive, some prominent American Jews said.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
What Lamont does not do is equally instructive.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Both Miller and Martinez shared a similar sentiment, explaining that business owners need to be ready to network and create a social media strategy.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The proposal does not include a summary explaining the purpose of the observance, and no additional details have been published outlining how the dates would be calculated beyond the language in the bill text.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The last Ag Reserve snapshot illustrating the breakdown is from 2023, which county officials recently presented during a 2025 meeting.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One of Mexico’s largest retailers is laying off workers in its fintech startup while scaling back its ambitions — illustrating the difficulty of establishing a foothold in the nation’s increasingly competitive financial system.—
Amy Stillman,
Bloomberg,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Colorado State Patrol is launching a new awareness campaign in April, highlighting common causes of crashes due to distracted driving.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Welcome to the high school baseball edition of the Fastball, a Star-Telegram series highlighting Fort Worth-area teams.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There’s at least one nonprofit, Thank God for Bitcoin, dedicated to educating Christians and churches about the digital asset.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
-
This is a full structural inversion — not educating people about the exit, but funding it.—
Charles Edward Gehrke,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There are also deleted scenes and a trailer, and an accompanying booklet is stuffed with informative essays and interviews (including an analysis by the always astute film noir expert Travis Woods).—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
-
People who find that buzzword-heavy corporate-speak profound and informative perform worse on measures of workplace leadership and decision-making.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fraser and his team ended up building lighting rigs using old tungsten lights — a lot of them.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike the Dark Mount, this unit doesn’t have lighting around the sides of the keyboard, but to me at least, that's no big deal.—
Aubrey Jowers,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Stepping outside your everyday life has a way of clarifying what actually matters, and returning home with fresh eyes often makes the decisions that felt tough seem far more manageable.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Start by clarifying priorities and boundaries this morning, then build steady momentum through the afternoon as support gathers and timing clicks into place.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminating. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
