1
as in to illumine
to supply with light
the light from a galaxy of flashing signs irradiates the heart and soul of Las Vegas
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to radiate
to throw or give off
irradiating an aura of supreme confidence on the playing field
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irradiate
Clooney — face wrapped in a giant gray beard — plays Augustine, a scientist at an Arctic research station that's still standing after an unnamed global catastrophe leaves the Earth irradiated.
—
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
Set two-hundred years after atomic armageddon, residents of Vault-Tec’s network of luxury fallout habitats begin to explore the radioactive territory outside their shelters and discover a nightmarish world of militant factions, irradiated creatures, vicious raiders, and feral monsters.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
The oldest dates back to 1970 and holds big, gnarly trees grown from 100 percent American irradiated nuts grafted onto Chinese rootstock.
—Eric J. Wallace, Outside, 24 Oct. 2025
After decades of technological and scientific advancements, irradiating food is now a common practice around the world.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irradiate
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
Set two-hundred years after atomic armageddon, residents of Vault-Tec’s network of luxury fallout habitats begin to explore the radioactive territory outside their shelters and discover a nightmarish world of militant factions, irradiated creatures, vicious raiders, and feral monsters.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
The oldest dates back to 1970 and holds big, gnarly trees grown from 100 percent American irradiated nuts grafted onto Chinese rootstock.
—Eric J. Wallace, Outside, 24 Oct. 2025
After decades of technological and scientific advancements, irradiating food is now a common practice around the world.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irradiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irradiate
Verb
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Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
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In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
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Regardless, the influence of Amazing Stories’ founding in 1926 radiated throughout the genre’s history like the light through Bradbury’s grandparents’ window, with authors who had their debut in Amazing Stories running the canonical gamut from Asimov to Zelzany.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The amber wave will be illuminated by the Aposē lamp trio, revealed for the first time.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
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Embracing reflection can be illuminating as Taurus season begins.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Researchers in the United States have proposed a completely new kind of laser—one that emits not light, but neutrinos.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
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The catastrophe caused highly radioactive material to emit across portions of Europe.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to Podgorski, Wenger allegedly constructed a Molotov cocktail inside the residence, lit it and threw it at officers.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
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Enter Artturi Lehkonen, who swooped into the crease to clean up with Doughty still riding his back, remaining upright and curling the rebound around Forsberg’s right leg to finally light the tamp.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The studio’s biggest headline was made outside of the convention hall, when news broke of Adria Arjona being cast in a mystery role in Man of Tomorrow.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Apr. 2026
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But filmmaker Morgan Neville painted a different picture of the legendary boss after speaking to cast members including Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney and Chris Rock for a documentary project decades in the making.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To stand here is to feel shock, cruelty and despair emanating from the red clay of north Georgia.—
Keith Sharon,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
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The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a spiral galaxy swirling through the darkness of space, emanating an otherworldly glow through its cosmic, branching arms.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If Bluey uses a wand of asparagus to transform her father into a walrus, her father will behave exactly like a walrus until released from the spell.—
Jean Garnett,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed just one of the deaths Friday evening, but did not release the identity.—
William Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irradiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irradiate. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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