1
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
2
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
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Chef Kevin Liao also distinguishes the kitchen with his illuminating Toisanese specialties, a regional subgenre of Cantonese cuisine either rarely seen in Los Angeles or so deeply assimilated into more generalized Cantonese menus that its distinctions are hard to parse.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026 -
Weaving her personal history with those of women from the more distant past, Maglaque doesn’t strive for universality, but a deep connectivity that makes the book at points illuminating and infuriating.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Verb
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During his welcome address, Leo appealed to Spaniards, especially political leaders, to put polemics aside and invest in educating young people to appreciate diversity and complexity rather than shunning them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
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For much of its first decade, OPRR was dedicated primarily to educating the nation’s researchers about how to ethically study people.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Caught unprotected off the port of Saint-Nazaire, the ship was sunk by German planes, the attack lighting a resulting fuel spill.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
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Design is modern and clean-lined—muted tones, patterned wallpaper, and enough art and lighting drama to feel fun without tipping into theme.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Clearly, the promotional popcorn stunts were effective marketing, inspiring fans to flock to comment sections and discussion threads to find out what was fact and what was fiction.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Schnur said the lack of inspiring governor candidates played at least some role.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Sunlight colors the water behind her, brightening a few strands of her hair.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
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The off-white wash feels especially fresh for spring, offering a softer alternative to stark white, while still brightening your wardrobe.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
2 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Illumining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumining. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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