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
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Recent Examples of illuminating
Brittany Delay, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
However, many statistics can be useful and illuminating.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Jeanne Lyons Davis, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Shadows, pink-colored halos, stripes on the moon, and the incandescent glow of the streetlights turned skyward illuminating the row of rooftops populated with what looked like angels holding hands.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminating
Adjective
And somehow all these conversations have been equally illuminating.
—Brittany Delay, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
However, many statistics can be useful and illuminating.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
This space reflects the Hatcliffs’ love of reading, with brass picture lights illuminating shelves filled with books, including a collection of old Reader’s Digest anthologies.
—Jeanne Lyons Davis, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Shadows, pink-colored halos, stripes on the moon, and the incandescent glow of the streetlights turned skyward illuminating the row of rooftops populated with what looked like angels holding hands.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminating
Adjective
-
The failures are instructive, too.—
Phil Blair,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The late-1990s dot-com boom is instructive.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gianni Infantino tried to defend FIFA’s World Cup ticket prices by explaining American sports to Americans.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
Berry later apologized by email to Crocker, Cal-OSHA’s Sacramento District Manager, explaining that an arson and bomb investigator for Cal Fire, Gershom Slonim, had told Voller not to grant the interview.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
European officials had welcomed Ukraine's unilateral move as a goodwill gesture illustrating its readiness for a peace settlement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
-
Touching the Art also delves into erasure and gaslighting, illustrating the all-too-common silencing that occurs when a family member speaks up about violence or abuse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Moon in Capricorn moves through your 8th House of Shared Resources, opposing Jupiter in your 2nd, highlighting personal versus shared priorities.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 May 2026
-
The new work represents a 40-fold increase in system size and a 210-times improvement in accuracy in a key part of the workflow, highlighting rapid progress in the field.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The Thoreau Alliance, an organization dedicated to educating about his life and legacy, is international.—
Robert M. Thorson,
The Conversation,
8 May 2026
-
James Romm Translates Classical Greek Poetry In the 5th century AD, a father in the Balkan city of Stobi was educating his son.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
The beloved broadcaster – who turns 100 this week – has been making thrilling and informative shows about the wonders of our planet for decades, spanning everything from the reptiles that roamed the Earth 66 million years ago to the wildlife battling for survival in sub-zero polar regions.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
6 May 2026
-
All of that might sound a little dense, but McKenzie’s fast and informative account of his deep dive into a blurry subject turns out to be one of the most entertaining, and yes, enlightening documentaries of the year.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The annual Women Who Rock event, which will be held at Lavan Midtown in New York, will also recognize the Class of 2026 — the women who are making big moves and lighting a path for the next generation.—
Katie Abel,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
-
Layer in lighting once the sun goes down Plants do half the work of a patio retreat.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ask one clarifying question today, then respond with intention so the conversation leads somewhere useful.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
At Judges’ Table itself, a winner isn’t immediately identified; instead, the judges ask the teams a few clarifying questions and share what takeout diners thought.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminating. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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