1
as in illumines
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explains
to make plain or understandable
the museum's exhibit on the refraction of light really illuminated the subject for us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in illustrates
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration
no one knows for sure the identity of the artist who illuminated that medieval manuscript so beautifully
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in emphasizes
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
the results of the statewide testing illuminated the need to place more focus on instruction in math and science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in educates
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminates
The Fluffy Optic cleaner head illuminates hidden dirt on the floor, and the auto-cleaning mode adjusts power based on floor type, helping conserve energy for efficient cleaning.
—
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Gomez opted for a true neutral petal mani, which illuminates her natural nail bed and adds the subtlest flush of pink.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2026
Road trippers should also plan fill-ups around cheaper gas stops instead of randomly pulling off the highway when the fuel light illuminates.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 29 Mar. 2026
The drama is amplified by backlighting with an LED, which brilliantly illuminates the fine details and creates a dramatic silhouette.
—New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026
Every year, Hakone illuminates its cherry blossoms and stays open late on several nights for visitors to stroll the grounds.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
The result is a sandwich that illuminates, a sandwich that delights, a sandwich that redefines the Italian combo as a structure, a set of relationships, a formula that admits many solutions.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
And perhaps this whole saga illuminates another reason why voters prefer to make young hunks wait until their late 30s, as Jordan did, to get their Oscar — to teach them humility.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
On the stage, his presence illuminates.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Gomez opted for a true neutral petal mani, which illuminates her natural nail bed and adds the subtlest flush of pink.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2026
Road trippers should also plan fill-ups around cheaper gas stops instead of randomly pulling off the highway when the fuel light illuminates.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 29 Mar. 2026
The drama is amplified by backlighting with an LED, which brilliantly illuminates the fine details and creates a dramatic silhouette.
—New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026
Every year, Hakone illuminates its cherry blossoms and stays open late on several nights for visitors to stroll the grounds.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
The result is a sandwich that illuminates, a sandwich that delights, a sandwich that redefines the Italian combo as a structure, a set of relationships, a formula that admits many solutions.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
And perhaps this whole saga illuminates another reason why voters prefer to make young hunks wait until their late 30s, as Jordan did, to get their Oscar — to teach them humility.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
On the stage, his presence illuminates.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminates
Verb
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That distinction naturally explains why Saturn's rings are composed almost entirely of water ice, with very little rock, the study notes.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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Fig, meanwhile, has drunk the Kool-Aid entirely, Shipp explains.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Contending visions of the attorney general’s job Bondi’s tenure illustrates the conflicting visions of what an attorney general should do that animate today’s American politics.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
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The University of Illinois System illustrates the scale of impact universities can have across the state.—
Mark Denzler,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a video lesson, psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes the importance of compassion when interacting with trauma survivors, highlighting that seemingly negative behaviors may be coping mechanisms for deep emotional pain and urging us to consider their struggles before passing judgment.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 Apr. 2026
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Bank of America emphasizes human oversight, transparency, and accountability for AI outcomes across the bank.—
Michael Bush,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
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The seat belonging to David Ko sat empty once again during the March 10 school board meeting of Niles Township High School District 219, which educates students in Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove and Niles.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Showering with the bathroom lights off at night, under the glow of the red light, feels futuristic and spa-like.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
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Ready to be honest about what lights you up?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When asked if he is divorced, Marsden's character clarifies he is widowed.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
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Lawmakers must pass legislation that clarifies that ostomy supplies are not appropriate for inclusion in competitive bidding programs and should be treated as patient-specific systems, not interchangeable goods.—
Diego Schaps,
STAT,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The conflict highlights a broader shift in digital advertising.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Mar. 2026
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Police say the incident highlights the dangers of relying on driver-assist technology, noting those features are not a substitute for being conscious, alert and sober behind the wheel.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
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Office storage rarely inspires much emotion, but Audo Copenhagen’s Crescent system gets close.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illuminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminates. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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