1
as in to inform
to give information to
the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.
—
The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Approaching your weekend of adventure means choosing active, cultural and social experiences that will engage and enlighten you.
—Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
The upside of the task is to reflect anew on work that moved and enlightened me in the past year and to try to capture something of the filmmaker’s creative achievement.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
Not just out of charity, but enlightened self-interest.
—David Miliband, Time, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Approaching your weekend of adventure means choosing active, cultural and social experiences that will engage and enlighten you.
—Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
The upside of the task is to reflect anew on work that moved and enlightened me in the past year and to try to capture something of the filmmaker’s creative achievement.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
Not just out of charity, but enlightened self-interest.
—David Miliband, Time, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlighten
Verb
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Because in the end, the role of the CFO is to inform the decision.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Tobay Robles' lawyers informed the court on Friday that his client had not received a bond hearing and was still in immigration custody.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 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,
27 Jan. 2026
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The talking heads educated the viewers about the basics of climbing, all while host Elle Duncan repeatedly reminded us that Honnold could die at any moment.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mostly Mute Monday tells an astronomical story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
2 Feb. 2026
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Kate later told Mary Berry that William tried to pull out all the stops in the kitchen to impress her early on in their relationship.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Alessandro Michele, at Valentino, was also thinking of how to collide reality and fantasy, staging his collection in nooks inspired by the kaiser panorama, an early 20th century precursor to cinema, in which viewers sat around a circle, staring into a contraption displaying slides.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Their position will allow Apache to engage in the community and inspire a love of poetry.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Venezuelans in need of consular support in the US typically had to travel to a third country, like Canada or Mexico, with another acceptable form of documentation to get it; that’s even what the International Organization for Migration advised.—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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Instead, the plant expert advises only repotting when roots circling the pot become visible and/or when growth slows.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Last year, the $205 billion bank sent out a memo introducing required AI training to 175,000 staffers across 80 locations—instructing them particularly in prompting—Citi confirmed with Fortune.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Not only are the federal agents involved in these shootings back on the street but federal investigators looking into the killing of Good were instructed instead to probe the victim and her widow, not the agent who fired the shots.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enlighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlighten. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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