1
as in to illumine
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to explain
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 to illustrate
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 to highlight
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 to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 illuminate
City News Service, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Solitude can be healing and illuminating today.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
The gals’ night together becomes an illuminating, madcap journey, transforming their feud into friendship.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
Throughout history, parents worldwide have given their children names with this illuminating meaning.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Verb
The NoHo Gateway Sign, a large-scale public art installation that has been dark since 2013, was illuminated during an evening ceremony led by Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian.
—City News Service, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Solitude can be healing and illuminating today.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
In one of the novel’s most illuminating scenes, Emily explains her novel to her sisters, reaching for their worn copy of Paradise Lost to make her point.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
The gals’ night together becomes an illuminating, madcap journey, transforming their feud into friendship.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
Throughout history, parents worldwide have given their children names with this illuminating meaning.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminate
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
Adjective
-
This excursion was informative and entertaining, and focused on the intricacies and dangers of fishing off the coast of Alaska.—
Aaron Saunders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The book is lyrically written and highly informative, diving deep into the common threads and tropes of estrangement in search of clarity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The other, extending protections to educational institutions, was vetoed.—
Elliot Cosgrove,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The information provided is for educational purposes and should not be construed as financial, investment or trading advice.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Perhaps most consequential in this move will be the expansion of the states’ authority and responsibility for educative quality within their jurisdictions.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
While apples-to-apples comparisons aren’t possible, a look at the streaming businesses is educative for identifying longer-term trends.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The new contract also included compensation for eight additional days added to the academic calendar in fall 2024 to make up for lost days from the 2022 teachers strike, even though the academic calendar has gone back to the pre-2024 number of instructional days.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
After working in special education for almost two decades, Lomblot retired in June 2023 from her position as an instructional assistant with the Abraxas adult transition program.—
Amy Stark Shireman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Together, broadcasting and telecommunications account for more than $60 billion in the Canadian economy and provide essential infrastructure for the exchange of cultural and informational resources necessary for the functioning of a Canadian democratic society.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminate. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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