as in education
the process by which one gains a greater understanding of something
The teacher's supplementary notes did provide some enlightenment on the difficult material. Those seeking enlightenment on Eastern philosophy should sign up for the class.
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Recent Examples of enlightenment
Matcha soon spread through Zen monasteries, where it was believed to generate greater enlightenment than long hours of meditation.
—
The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
The line between enlightenment and narcissism is razor thin.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Lily Allen, West End Girl To know one’s mind and communicate its contents clearly is a sign of enlightenment—and for that reason, if few others, the 40-year-old British singer Lily Allen should feel at peace.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
The enlightenment for us is that material things can be gone within a day.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlightenment
The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
The line between enlightenment and narcissism is razor thin.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Lily Allen, West End Girl To know one’s mind and communicate its contents clearly is a sign of enlightenment—and for that reason, if few others, the 40-year-old British singer Lily Allen should feel at peace.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
The enlightenment for us is that material things can be gone within a day.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlightenment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlightenment
Noun
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As uniform payment for attorneys changes the landscape of family law, training and education are at the forefront of the conversation.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
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The factors that drove it have mostly played out, including Congress raising the Social Security eligibility age by two years, gains in education and life expectancy and fewer employee pensions, said Alicia Munnell, a senior adviser to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.—
Paige Winfield Cunningham The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And also there’s a huge music staff with a lot of know-how and really, really deep knowledge and contacts and relationships in that space.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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The general principle that all real knowledge is derived from sense perception of material facts cannot itself be derived from the perception of facts in the world, and thus can’t really be sanctioned by scientific materialism’s own methods.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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CultureCon offers free scholarship tickets to students with financial needs and also partners with colleges to offer free admission.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
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Applicants sought for scholarships Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain will be awarding two $500 scholarships through the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, according to a news release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enlightenment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlightenment. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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