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
If the Sun is lower on the horizon, long shadows will stretch across the surface, enhancing relief and revealing depth, ridges, slopes, and crater rims that are often difficult to detect under full illumination.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
Tests showed more than 90 percent uniformity in illumination across the target area at a distance of two meters.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
When is peak illumination for Oklahoma City?
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 31 Mar. 2026
When is peak illumination for Louisville?
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
Tests showed more than 90 percent uniformity in illumination across the target area at a distance of two meters.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
When is peak illumination for Oklahoma City?
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 31 Mar. 2026
When is peak illumination for Louisville?
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumination
Noun
-
That may be a tribute to NDiaye’s success in conjuring a world in which knowledge is acquired not through explanation but through a kind of silent apprenticeship.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
That was Chef Tim Love’s explanation for opening his new Greek restaurant, Meraki.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Eclipses allow scientists to study the sun's wispy outer atmosphere, known as the corona, which is usually swamped by our star's immense brightness.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Still, 766 nits peak brightness is pretty good for a cheap TV.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For one day only, a classic roadside pitstop will be transformed into a desert beauty destination, inviting guests to cruise through the brand's universe of color, glow and artistry through a series of interactive touch points.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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When our own planet was eclipsing the sun, at least from the Artemis capsule’s point of view, the astronauts saw the agave-green milky glow of the solar atmosphere and its dust, visible around the moon.—
Rebecca Boyle,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Different interpretations of rhetoric Some argue that the criticism targeted the regime, and that many Iranians welcome blunt honesty.—
Erin Jones,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The most traditional poetic forms are repetitive, with strict rhyme schemes and meter, but newer interpretations are also built around repetition, relying on slant rhymes, refrains, alliteration, and more.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Apr. 2026
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
-
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
-
Keep the tone light to prevent friction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Then the lights went out in the store, and one of the clerks shrieked in the dark, and another told her to remain calm.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That illustration seems almost quaint now, but the central concept still holds.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
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The newest Echo Show 5 Kids features the all-new Alexa+, so kids can engage in interactive learning conversations and co-create one-of-a-kind stories with original, real-time illustrations.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rather, these plays are about in-the-moment brilliance.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The shooter’s French-speaking sidekick, Iris, performed with biting brilliance by Julie Helga, addresses him as a friend, but the creators have gone out of their way to avoid glorifying him or his nihilistic destruction.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illumination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumination. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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