1
as in to illuminate
to supply with light
small table lamps illumine the inn's dining room in a most romantic way
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
readers of great literature are both entertained and illumined
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of illumine
The lighting illumines each river in brilliantly bright backdrop colors.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The bar was illumined by candles and an uplit line of mostly esoteric liquors along the full-length mirror against the back wall.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024
In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
First a dazzling light show that illumined the arena in a constellation of purple.
—NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Hung’s defense of artistic passion starts with the human touch, then illumines our basic needs and spiritual appetite.
—Armond White, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024
The papaya-pulp glow of sodium lights on a remote station’s platform revealed the denizens of the wayside: disused open-top hoppers, empty coil cars, corroded gondolas, a modest village in the distance illumined by weak-yellow streetlamps.
—Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2023
There was in the Registry, besides, her portrait, painted by an artist of the time in the conventional style of the time: haloed, illumined, awestruck eyes fixed upward to the heavens.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
The non-narrative videos, which may well come to be regarded as the Sistine Chapel of video art, projected onto epic screens above the orchestra and singers, serve not to illumine Wagner’s drama but his intent.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2022
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The bar was illumined by candles and an uplit line of mostly esoteric liquors along the full-length mirror against the back wall.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024
In a room illumined by the light of a few candles, a group of women with veils over their faces conducts a séance.
—Rhoda Feng, ARTnews.com, 9 Aug. 2024
First a dazzling light show that illumined the arena in a constellation of purple.
—NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024
Hung’s defense of artistic passion starts with the human touch, then illumines our basic needs and spiritual appetite.
—Armond White, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024
The papaya-pulp glow of sodium lights on a remote station’s platform revealed the denizens of the wayside: disused open-top hoppers, empty coil cars, corroded gondolas, a modest village in the distance illumined by weak-yellow streetlamps.
—Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2023
There was in the Registry, besides, her portrait, painted by an artist of the time in the conventional style of the time: haloed, illumined, awestruck eyes fixed upward to the heavens.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
The non-narrative videos, which may well come to be regarded as the Sistine Chapel of video art, projected onto epic screens above the orchestra and singers, serve not to illumine Wagner’s drama but his intent.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumine
Verb
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The exhibition illuminates the lives of the Roulins through supplemental photographs, letters and histories.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
19 Mar. 2025
-
As for the latter, it’s illuminated with 142 stars.—
Sean Evans,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The nonprofit sector should leverage this potential wealth transfer by investing time in educating donors about the importance of unrestricted gifts.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
The state agencies charged with addressing hard drug addiction and the safe use of cannabis are failing to educate the public as to the dangers of drug use.—
Howard Husock,
New York Daily News,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That failure did not light a fire so much as keep the pilot light on.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
13 Mar. 2025
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The location reopened in May of last year: ATMs are walled in by vertical stripes of handmade blue subway tile and lit by bulbous, ’60s-style lights.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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For a great film, and an even better true story behind it, check out some of the best movies inspired by real people that are streaming on Netflix right now.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
16 Mar. 2025
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Are the characters played by Gyllenhaal and Clarke inspired by real people?—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Ahead, the 10 best kojic acid products to brighten and clear your skin.—
Deanna Pai,
Allure,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Patients looking to brighten their skin tone and reduce fine lines often turn to Silkro and Thulium laser treatments, which refine skin texture while addressing pigmentation concerns.—
Alexandra Harbert,
USA TODAY,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illumine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumine. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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