ILLUMINING Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

illumining

verb

present participle of illumine

as in illuminating

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

as in educating

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 illumining

Verb

The answers that follow are illuminating into what art inspires today’s most active collectors.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Fixed on a mobile rig that will at times careen and whoosh across the stage when not otherwise holding on Winter, Anderson’s camera catches the expressionism and chiaroscuro of stage lights illuminating and fading off the singer’s face.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of illuminating

Verb

Even more impressive is the company’s commitment to the local community and environment, and to educating guests about the area’s Indigenous culture and heritage.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The biggest challenge will likely be educating viewers that the Emmys are no longer on broadcast, and migrating an audience to Prime Video.

— Michael Schneider, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of educating

Verb

This technique, which consists of lighting a canvas from behind, confirmed the presence of the two women seated on the bench.

— Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Guests can see the furniture, materials, and lighting under discussion, then walk the district to the next event.

— John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of lighting

Verb

Step around, and potentially inside, awe-inspiring vehicles from the film, or come face-to-face with the Bene Gesserit, a group of priestesses who possess, among other things, the ability to bend the will of others.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
The paint was soon being mass-produced in Europe, inspiring shady dealings that even included outright grave robbing to acquire as many mummies as possible.

— Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 29, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of inspiring

Verb

Though it's already packed with energizing caffeine and circulation-boosting ginseng, the formula takes the brightening powers up a notch with light-reflecting particles that could pass for a full eight hours of sleep.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 1 Oct. 2026
That’s why this skin tint, which has hydrating squalane along with brightening vitamin C and SPF for sun protection made my list.

— Jacqueline Tempera, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of brightening

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.

Browse Nearby Words

illuming

illumining

ill-usage

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Illumining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumining. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of illumining

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

etiquette

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes