as in distinguished
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement
an illustrious physicist who is a sure bet for a Nobel Prize
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illustrious
The 40-year-old has had an illustrious 22-year career on the basketball court, including this season.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Five months later, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly handed Landeskog the Stanley Cup, the crowning achievement of his illustrious career.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025
Bette Davis — Jezebel (1938) Bette Davis may have had more iconic roles during her illustrious career, but her turn as a headstrong Southern belle in Jezebel stands out as one of Hollywood's earliest feminist-leaning heroes.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
This esteemed award honors the Monegasque chef’s culinary achievements over an illustrious career.
—Spencer Whaley, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrious
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Five months later, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly handed Landeskog the Stanley Cup, the crowning achievement of his illustrious career.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025
Bette Davis — Jezebel (1938) Bette Davis may have had more iconic roles during her illustrious career, but her turn as a headstrong Southern belle in Jezebel stands out as one of Hollywood's earliest feminist-leaning heroes.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
This esteemed award honors the Monegasque chef’s culinary achievements over an illustrious career.
—Spencer Whaley, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrious
Adjective
-
France has had a distinguished career as a journalist, activist and filmmaker, having focused primarily on the LGBTQ+ movement.—
Tom White,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Serling wrote 92 of the 156 black-and-white sci-fi fantasy episodes throughout the five-year run, with distinguished writers Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson contributing 36 more top chapters.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to the ensemble prize, Short also won outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Densmore also had three outstanding warrants out of Illinois.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And by reversing a one-goal loss to Herediano last week in Costa Rica, Wednesday’s result gave the Galaxy a 4-2 aggregate-goal victory in the two-leg round-of-16 playoff, lifting the team into the quarterfinals of the confederation’s most prestigious club competition for the first time in a decade.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
-
During Miller’s four years at Arkansas, the Razorbacks had one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the country.—
David Ammenheuser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
After years away, theater director Jeanine (Seyfried) re-enters the opera world to stage her former mentor’s most famous work.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
-
This Key Largo state park is famous for being underwater and boasts four kinds of boat tours, which include glass-bottom boat trips.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The study published in the eminent science journal, The Lancet, and falsely linked MMR vaccines with autism.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Costa interviews eminent subjects on both sides of the ideological divide, including current president Lula, former president Bolsonaro, and evangelical minister (and Bolsonaro ally) Silas Malafaia.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Though perhaps not the most immediately exciting news, the finding is notable for illustrating what science has only previously been able to guess at.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The flurry of moves may be most notable for the position Borgonzi has not addressed: quarterback.—
Nate Rau,
Axios,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illustrious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrious. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share