ENLIGHTEN Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

enlighten

verb

in-ˈlī-tᵊn

Definition of enlighten

as in to inform

to give information to the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of enlighten Ambiguity clouds the conversation and risks leaving your protégé more confused than enlightened. — Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 The flip of a switch enlightened Americans to the potential of the technology to transform just about every aspect of their lives. — Kevin Frazier, Fortune, 13 May 2026 Call it enlightened self-interest. — Big Think, 7 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 See All Example Sentences for enlighten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlighten

Verb

Protesters derailed a rezoning meeting on Crown Center, cutting short a hearing intended to inform residents about redevelopment plans to accommodate a new downtown Royals stadium.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
My editor at Vulture has informed me that this is the name of the mysterious archer who iced Criston from across that field.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 27 July 2026

Definition of inform

Verb

This strategy aims to educate and register Hispanic voters in over 40 states through 2028, prioritizing Florida, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Some even pay regulatory fines rather than change, often because decision-makers have not been educated about the available options and long-term economics.

— Zev Laine, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of educate

Verb

For a long time, we’ve all been told that remastering the older Super Robot Wars games was extremely difficult, due to all the licensing and other costs involved.

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Earlier, sources told CNN that the crown prince raised concerns over plans to strike Iran during the call.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of tell

Verb

The book — with its treatment of racial integration as equivalent to the death-penalty federal crime of treason — has inspired numerous acts of racist violence through the years since its publication.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Terminal 26, a new restaurant in Ponce City Market’s central food hall, is inspired by Thailand’s famous floating markets, where goods are sold from boats and riverbank stalls.

— Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of inspire

Verb

Baez advises adjusting sleep schedules two to three days before the flight and focusing on syncing their circadian rhythm with the new time zone by keeping screens dim.

— Sophia Dyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026
Make Your Experience Relevant Mid-career professionals are sometimes advised to remove dates from their résumés, shorten their work histories or avoid appearing overqualified.

— Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of advise

Verb

More than 150,000 people have been instructed to go to evacuation centres, the disaster management agency said.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Her job meant overseeing aircrew readiness, training and flight operations while instructing boom operators on air refueling procedures, the Air Force said.

— Chris Kenning, USA Today, 26 July 2026