unilluminating

adjective

un·​il·​lu·​mi·​nat·​ing ˌən-i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnā-tiŋ How to pronounce unilluminating (audio)
: failing to enlighten or clarify : not illuminating
an unilluminating report
I found most of the reviews, although favorable, rather unilluminating.Stephen Hawking
unilluminatingly adverb

Examples of unilluminating in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
These scenes are heavy and unilluminating. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2023 The project draws strength, however, from the breadth of its interviews, including several Tyson opponents, before culminating with a fairly unilluminating chat with Tyson himself -- a relatively short coda that would have been stronger had it been spread throughout the presentation. Brian Lowry, CNN, 25 May 2021 Unlike in Van Sant’s film, though, we are treated merely to Ray’s unexceptional and unilluminating thoughts. Bécquer Seguín, Slate Magazine, 21 July 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unilluminating was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near unilluminating

Cite this Entry

“Unilluminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unilluminating. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on unilluminating

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!