1
as in illumines
to supply with light
a floor lamp illuminates a living room rather nicely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explains
to make plain or understandable
the museum's exhibit on the refraction of light really illuminated the subject for us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in illustrates
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration
no one knows for sure the identity of the artist who illuminated that medieval manuscript so beautifully
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in emphasizes
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
the results of the statewide testing illuminated the need to place more focus on instruction in math and science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in educates
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
how man is illuminated by a higher spirit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illuminates
But twilight illuminates the sky to some extent whenever the sun's upper rim is less than 18-degrees below the horizon.
—
Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The Center surveys Arizonans about their civic priorities and aims to bring residents together by providing data that illuminates shared public values.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Malaysia's story illuminates how diverse communities can federate while preserving distinct identities.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
And yet — Still, the report illuminates an important facet of how today’s AI systems work.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Reflective and semi-transparent surfaces are found throughout the store, with Frazen highlighting shelving that illuminates a lineup of handbags and footwear on display.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025
Midweek, the Taurus moon illuminates your relationship zone, reminding you that healing isn’t a solo journey.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 7 Sep. 2025
Furthermore, this Scosche charger includes a light that illuminates under the base, and a portable, 5,000 mAh MagSafe power bank battery that easily drops into a dedicated charger on the base.
—Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Tuesday’s brief illuminates the sharp disagreement between the two sides over charters.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The Center surveys Arizonans about their civic priorities and aims to bring residents together by providing data that illuminates shared public values.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Malaysia's story illuminates how diverse communities can federate while preserving distinct identities.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
And yet — Still, the report illuminates an important facet of how today’s AI systems work.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Reflective and semi-transparent surfaces are found throughout the store, with Frazen highlighting shelving that illuminates a lineup of handbags and footwear on display.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025
Midweek, the Taurus moon illuminates your relationship zone, reminding you that healing isn’t a solo journey.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 7 Sep. 2025
Furthermore, this Scosche charger includes a light that illuminates under the base, and a portable, 5,000 mAh MagSafe power bank battery that easily drops into a dedicated charger on the base.
—Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Tuesday’s brief illuminates the sharp disagreement between the two sides over charters.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminates
Verb
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In the sketch, Bargatze plays George Washington and explains the confusing nature of modern-day America.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Whereas previous metal pollution records extracted their silt, or evidence from areas far from their sources— upland peat cores or mountain and polar glaciers, Cambridge specifies –the most recent data comes from the epicenter of production, a paleochannel of the River Ure, Cambridge explains.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Honestly, what Representative Mace has been doing illustrates all that is wrong with our politics right now.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
-
This table illustrates how ORCL is growing compared to the broader market.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This leadership, as Lanier emphasizes, is deeply rooted in values and focused on the long-term well-being of both individuals and the organization.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The plates section in the monograph emphasizes this in beautiful, resonant pairings chosen by Steven Rose.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jack Tamisiea,
Scientific American,
17 Sep. 2025
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The school district, which educates about 23,000 students, is working toward making CPR a skill that every student learns at least once a year starting in fifth grade, said Superintendent Joe Harrington.—
Ciara McCarthy
September 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As such, wardrobe styling and other modes of non-verbal communication — from raising an eyebrow or throwing a cutting look to the way one lights a cigarette or sways to a disco beat — were particularly key to creating character.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Ben Hania lights a connective fuse between documentary and drama, using the actual recordings of the panicked girl and the emergency workers — the latter played by actors who hold the screen with pulsing immediacy.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As drafted and adopted, the ordinance specifically clarifies that the measure does not create a private right to action against the city or its personnel.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
11 Sep. 2025
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Uncertainty has also been reduced by the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July, which clarifies questions around tax policy and provides incentives for corporations to invest while also boosting their free cash flow generation in many cases.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This week's quiz highlights burger bites, sporty stars — and a lot more.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Led by senior engineer Meng Hao of the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute, the research highlights how intelligent, real-time decision-making could drastically reduce a submarine’s chances of escaping detection.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jack Tamisiea,
Scientific American,
17 Sep. 2025
-
With guidance and resources from the American Heart Association, each nominee builds a personalized campaign, recruits an Impact Team and inspires others to join the mission.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illuminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminates. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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