1
as in illuminates
to supply with light
small table lamps illumine the inn's dining room in a most romantic way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in educates
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumines
Verb
-
Discreetly in a back corner is the reception desk, and a large chandelier illuminates the fresh flower arrangements below.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026 -
Douglas Friedman’s upcoming monograph, Full Spectrum (Vendome Press), illuminates the extraordinary level of access the globe-trotting photographer has cultivated over the course of his career.—
Mayer Rus,
Architectural Digest,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Part of the Who HQ series, this book educates readers about LGBTQ+ activist Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician elected in California.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
By late afternoon, people tend to drift toward a neighbor’s backyard, someone lights the barbecue, and kids sort themselves into games of backyard cricket.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
-
Turn the pool lights off at night.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
That's what inspires me — being able to support them.—
Loureen Ayyoub,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
After learning their rent is being raised, the pair embark on a reckless night out that inspires an impulsive idea of faking a movie and seeing who shows up.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Your 5th House of Creativity brightens as the emotional Moon forms an easy sextile with sore-spot Chiron in your 7th House of Partnership, turning play into repair.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 June 2026
-
Niacinamide brightens and balances, while collagen, squalane, and adenosine work together to contribute to a hydrated, bouncier-looking complexion.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
27 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Illumines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumines. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
