1
as in explanation
a statement that makes something clear
the candidate's so-called illuminations of his views on a number of controversial issues left many voters in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in brightness
the quality or state of having or giving off light
in that clime the illumination of the full moon on a clear night is so bright that you can practically read by it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
a steady illumination from the flashlight was all I had while changing the tire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illumination
Theirs sits on the ground, just bare bulbs screwed into the ends of copper piping strung with wires, powering through a wondrous cycle of dimming and illumination, conjuring electricity’s arrival to the Marble Palace long ago.
—
Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
Among her achievements is the championing of works by underappreciated Black and female composers, conducting world premieres by a range of contemporary composers and crafting clever programs that put modern alongside classics in a way that provide context and illumination.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025
My focus during client prep is usually on hydration, shaping and illumination.
—Essence, 6 May 2025
These materials would then be used in the copying and illumination of manuscripts.
—Erik Zou, JSTOR Daily, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
Among her achievements is the championing of works by underappreciated Black and female composers, conducting world premieres by a range of contemporary composers and crafting clever programs that put modern alongside classics in a way that provide context and illumination.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025
My focus during client prep is usually on hydration, shaping and illumination.
—Essence, 6 May 2025
These materials would then be used in the copying and illumination of manuscripts.
—Erik Zou, JSTOR Daily, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumination
Noun
-
The new study, published this month in Psychological Science, offers one explanation about this phenomenon.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
-
There was little immediate public explanation or detail from the White House in the aftermath of Trump’s dramatic escalation.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
This is enough brightness, potentially, to leave the M2 Pro watchable in rooms that aren’t completely blacked out – another handy lifestyle touch.—
John Archer,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
This contrasts with a more standard black hole that typically acquires its material and energy unpredictably, resulting in irregular brightness fluctuations.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
This view of the Truman Home at 215 N. Delaware Street in Independence carries the Kodachrome glow of the 1950s.—
Randy Mason,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2025
-
But as the glow of last year’s AI hype fades, reality is setting in: Companies that rushed toward shiny new tech without fixing their foundations are now struggling to scale it.—
Kristin Russel,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
In other words, attractiveness is a multidimensional concept comprising beauty, genuineness, and self-esteem, with ‘naturalness’ being an interpretation of the optimal balance of these factors.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
2 June 2025
-
One interpretation is that that’s what the world would have been like if we hadn’t got thrown out of the Garden of Eden.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
So, astronomers have come up with a compromise regarding the geometry of the sun's illumination angle on Venus' disk versus its distance from Earth to determine the time of Venus' greatest brilliancy.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Family circles will have wrapped themselves in the holy pleasures of the great occasion, and everywhere the grand old holiday will have been introduced with all the majesty and brilliancy which clings around the hallowed name of Christmas.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American-Statesman,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Sinner gave him almost no chances, but there was a glimmer of light in the 10th game, when Djokovic had four chances to break Sinner’s serve.—
Jerome Pugmire,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
-
When light strikes the interface between two materials with different refractive indices—such as glass and air—some of the light is reflected while the rest is transmitted through the material.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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With more than 50 tattoos, the imagery comes in a huge variety of artistic styles, from a simple linework Matisse illustration to an intricately detailed Visconti of Milan coat of arms to a classic rose and photorealistic pet portraits.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
2 June 2025
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The words were names, surnames, dates, cities and towns, sometimes with illustrations for reference, according to the release.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Because the island is so removed from urban congestion, there’s no light pollution to hinder the brilliance in the sky.—
DeMarco Williams,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
-
The luxury brand represents both the brilliance of diamonds and an enduring artistic passion that has endured for more than 20 years.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illumination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumination. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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