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
Adams said that the solution at the time was to irradiate the tumor around his spine to give him some strength back in his lower body.
—
Kate Reilly, NBC news, 2 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for irradiate
Kate Reilly, NBC news, 2 Jan. 2026
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
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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The flower, which radiates positivity and joy, encourages Leo to showcase their vivacious personality.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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Naturally then, many guests greet the staff like old friends, and this familial atmosphere radiates out through the casual grace of the hotel staff.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Tribal businesses often lead to significant spillover effects benefiting even non-tribal citizens, and while national-level data of their economic impact is scarce, state-level examples are illuminating.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
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This scatterplot of stars illuminated the process of stellar evolution and jump-started the field of stellar physics more than a century ago.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The first piece visitors encounter upon entering Iris van Herpen’s new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York is the designer’s 2016 bubble dress—a precursor to the 2026 iteration, which also emitted blown bubbles, that went viral when Eileen Gu wore it to the Met Gala last week.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
11 May 2026
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Both emit a strong, sweet odor.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Southampton’s team arrived at St Mary’s amid a sea of red smoke from the flares lit by the thousands of fans who had lined the street to greet them.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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The place was brightly lit and sparingly decorated, with clusters of books that made no sense.—
Francesco Pacifico,
The Dial,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Might that disenfranchise voters who already cast their ballots?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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California voters overwhelmingly approved the plan, with 64% of more than 11 million votes cast in favor of it.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The duo even selected the signature scent that emanates within.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
12 May 2026
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Meanwhile, satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press show what appears to be an oil slick in the Persian Gulf emanating from the western side of Kharg Island, Iran's main crude export terminal.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The city also hasn’t released a calculation of how many new units would be required if SB 79 ends up affecting 52 bus stops instead of four.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
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No motive has been released, as of Friday afternoon.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irradiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irradiate. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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