1
as in explanation
a statement that makes something clear
the candidate's so-called illuminations of his views on a number of controversial issues left many voters in the dark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in brightness
the quality or state of having or giving off light
in that clime the illumination of the full moon on a clear night is so bright that you can practically read by it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible
a steady illumination from the flashlight was all I had while changing the tire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illumination
There’s no point postulating a soul that might rise beyond the reach of artificial illumination, because the very vault of the Universe is inscribed with radiant diagrams.
—
Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
These thoughtful details extend beyond aesthetics; outdoor lighting is turtle-friendly, ensuring that nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings are guided by moonlight back into the water rather than artificial illumination.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Crossed spears of sunlight fall into it but only so far, and beneath their yellow illuminations Brith can see depths and more depths of water, darkening to obscurity.
—Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
The fifth full moon of 2026 reached peak illumination on Friday, May 1.
—Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
These thoughtful details extend beyond aesthetics; outdoor lighting is turtle-friendly, ensuring that nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings are guided by moonlight back into the water rather than artificial illumination.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Crossed spears of sunlight fall into it but only so far, and beneath their yellow illuminations Brith can see depths and more depths of water, darkening to obscurity.
—Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
The fifth full moon of 2026 reached peak illumination on Friday, May 1.
—Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for illumination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumination
Noun
-
The explanation is easy and politically convenient.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
These pics need no explanation!—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Buyers can choose between the LCD and OLED models, with the latter offering higher peak brightness in HDR mode (900 nits versus 600 nits), but both support 120Hz refresh rates.—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
16 June 2026
-
The screens offer higher frame rates, greater brightness, deeper blacks and superior contrast ratios compared with conventional digital projectors.—
Marcus Lim,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Place an orb light on the bottom shelf to lend your bedroom a cozy glow.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
-
The milky texture glides effortlessly over the skin, leaving a smooth finish and a natural, healthy glow.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Williams, who was sponsored by Puma at the time, wore an interpretation of the shirt at the French Open that year, complete with long, football-style yellow socks.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
The Dior store, located at 650 West 41st Avenue, has an exterior with a distinctive, elegant white marble facade in six finishes, which is enhanced by a graphic interpretation of cannage.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
So, astronomers have come up with a compromise regarding the geometry of the sun's illumination angle on Venus' disk versus its distance from Earth to determine the time of Venus' greatest brilliancy.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Lamps can also create a more relaxed atmosphere in the evenings, when bright overhead lights often feel too harsh.—
Natasha Bazika,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
-
All of which casts the UFC fights for America's 250th birthday in a different light, says Zelizer.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
To me, World Cup ticket prices are a striking illustration of how deep this reality has become.—
Stefan Szymanski,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
-
But this week in Tennessee, more than 500 miles away from Washington, DC, officials quietly unveiled a far more revealing illustration of the US president’s future architectural legacy.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
His unselfishness and understanding of how to fit his skill set around Nikola Jokic’s brilliance remain unmatched.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
8 June 2026
-
Sport, in a world of artificial intelligence and synthetics, is also very human, in all its brilliance and fallibility.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illumination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumination. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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