1
as in to inform
to give information to
the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
many people around the world have been enlightened by the teachings of Gautama Buddha
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of enlighten
One of the enlightened, somebody named Mike Freiberg, a DFL representative out Golden Valley way, had the audacity to author a bill that would reduce by 10 percent the aid sent by the state to any city that does not the fly the enlightened flag.
—
Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
The intention of Guay and his small circle of advisers appears to have been to obscure, not enlighten.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
But Taraborrelli believes that revisiting a moment in time when Jackson and his music became a cultural phenomenon, as well as enlightening new generations to his otherworldliness as an entertainer, should be a reason for unity.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
His work commonly explores how the text of Islamic tradition can enlighten the present and vice versa.
—André Munro, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
The intention of Guay and his small circle of advisers appears to have been to obscure, not enlighten.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
But Taraborrelli believes that revisiting a moment in time when Jackson and his music became a cultural phenomenon, as well as enlightening new generations to his otherworldliness as an entertainer, should be a reason for unity.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
His work commonly explores how the text of Islamic tradition can enlighten the present and vice versa.
—André Munro, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlighten
Verb
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Later Tuesday, Loboa sent an email to the DU community informing them about the academic realignment, a message that listed data and documents used to make the restructuring decisions.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
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Employees who work at the New Labor Agency Building, at O and 9th streets, were also sent memos informing them that the building does not have sufficient space to accommodate all employees in offices four days a week.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The program is a half-day, in-depth course to educate attendees on the principles used by firefighters in suppressing wildland fire and protecting structures in the Wildland Urban Interface, said workshop organizers.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
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As the World Cup tourists arrive, the national seashore is educating them about how to stay safe at local beaches.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
Verb
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An Israeli source told CNN that Netanyahu has also privately blamed Kushner and Witkoff for creating a wedge between the two leaders.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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There must be something magical about Block Island after all, but only time will tell if that magic will extend to Jo-Ellen and Rulla, who still doubts that Jo-Ellen’s proof was well-meaning.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Verb
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When reconstructing the Inquisition trial of a sixteenth-century northern Italian miller, historian Carlo Ginzburg encountered a line that would eventually inspire the title of his paradigm-shifting study The Cheese and the Worms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Though all eyes will be on North America, the national pride this event inspires – and the staggered start times that will allow fans watching back in their home countries to take in their teams during sort-of-normal hours – will stir incredible excitement and patriotism all around the world.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Anyone who may have been exposed to measles should first determine whether they have been vaccinated against measles by checking their immunization records, the public health department advised.—
Connor Sheets,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
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Jon Hyman, chair of the employment and labor practice at the Wickens Herzer Panza law firm, advises his clients to trust individual managers to work out arrangements on a case-by-case basis.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The ongoing lawsuit, which also criticized Bass for deferring to the councilmember’s wishes, alleged city staff at one point stopped responding to developer emails and were instructed to not sign off on additional approvals needed before the project could break ground.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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The judge, who is presiding at the trial in the 296th District Court in Collin County, denied a defense request for the jury to be permitted to consider criminally negligent homicide, but jurors were instructed to consider manslaughter, a reckless killing.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enlighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlighten. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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