1
as in to illuminate
to supply with light
small table lamps illumine the inn's dining room in a most romantic way
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
readers of great literature are both entertained and illumined
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illumine
Geraldine walked over to Felix and Jane’s for fish soup, through long autumn shadows in the park, haze rising like smoke from the grass, illumined by the low sun.
—
Tessa Hadley, New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2026
These fruits are tiny stars, planets in arm’s reach,
little moons reddened by desire and cunning,
the sun, at each step, illumines the petals of the dogwood flowers, their bright yellow is dimmed by no leaf, on their still-bare branches the first fissure in winter opens up by magic.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2025
Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.
—Daniel Burke, NPR, 9 May 2025
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The bar was illumined by candles and an uplit line of mostly esoteric liquors along the full-length mirror against the back wall.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024
In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
First a dazzling light show that illumined the arena in a constellation of purple.
—NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Tessa Hadley, New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2026
These fruits are tiny stars, planets in arm’s reach,
little moons reddened by desire and cunning,
the sun, at each step, illumines the petals of the dogwood flowers, their bright yellow is dimmed by no leaf, on their still-bare branches the first fissure in winter opens up by magic.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2025
Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.
—Daniel Burke, NPR, 9 May 2025
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The bar was illumined by candles and an uplit line of mostly esoteric liquors along the full-length mirror against the back wall.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024
In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
First a dazzling light show that illumined the arena in a constellation of purple.
—NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumine
Verb
-
As the heartache eases, memories often heal and illuminate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
This idea is neatly illuminated in the seminal What Can One Do with a Paving Stone, 1971, comprising a series of black-and-white photographs mounted to canvas and showing the artist variously carrying, caressing, wrapping, and otherwise handling the titular stone.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
-
One of our guests, John Davidson MBE has Tourette Syndrome and has devoted his life to educating and campaigning for better understanding of the condition.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While not as white as Florida’s quartz beaches, Emerald Isle’s shoreline trends light khaki to off-white – noticeably lighter than the mineral-heavy sand found on many other North Carolina beaches.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Feb. 2026
-
When cleaning is complete, light an odor-removing candle, kick back and relish in your accomplishment.—
Claire Peltier,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The cream contains a unique NCEF formula inspired by ingredients in cosmetic injectables.—
Cathy Nelson,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Some way short of the 467 made by his idol Vitor Baia, the Champions League-winning goalkeeper who inspired him to wear No 99 on his back, but hefty nonetheless.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cooperation brightens conversations as the moody Moon in your connection sector trines punchy Mars in your 3rd House of Messages.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Shop the moisturizer on Amazon, along with other Tula products, including a blurring primer and a brightening eye balm.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illumine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumine. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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