illuminates

verb

present tense third-person singular of illuminate
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

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 illuminates Koopala’s rechargeable, stick-on task light illuminates tricky spots around the home that could use extra light without the hassle of cords or hardwiring. — Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2026 The remainder of the moon will take on a reddish-brown hue because sunlight bends around Earth and illuminates the lunar surface indirectly. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Artificial light only illuminates streets and sidewalks, but here, everything would be illuminated — every backyard, park, roof or river. — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The Maldives The picture-perfect islands of the Maldives are some of the best places to see bioluminescence around the world, thanks to an abundance of plankton that illuminates the waves after sunset. — Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026 Award-winning actor Kandis Chappell deftly illuminates the witty, feisty, vulnerable woman who was considered the heart of FDR’s presidency. — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 When the steering-wheel light bar illuminates in green with GM’s Super Cruise, drivers may remove their hands from the steering wheel. — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026 Through collaboration, information, and perspective, this sometimes complicated and frustrating process can ultimately become the light that illuminates this path. — Parents, 7 Aug. 2026 That independence illuminates what the entire buy-and-build industry is now chasing. — Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illuminates
  1. lights
  2. explains
  3. illustrates
  4. emphasizes
  5. educates
  6. clarifies
  7. highlights
  8. inspires
Verb
  • The analysis asserts that spark that lights the fire sale probably won’t emerge from European markets, but that’s not saying much.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Mereu’s sure hand with his actors is a saving grace, with Perrone and Maenza particularly well-cast, and DP Francesco Piras lights them to perfection while being in perfect synch with the director’s reverence for the natural world.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of lights
Verb
  • Here, The Athletic explains who York is, his background and his relationship to Leeds.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The album, Cole explains, became as much about the support surrounding heartbreak as heartbreak itself.
    — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of explains
Verb
  • The episode illustrates a less visible part of keeping older military aircraft flying.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That, Manuel says, illustrates the class divide that has been so ingrained in the Philippines.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of illustrates
Verb
  • The piece emphasizes that Californians, especially Democrats and independents, strongly favor voting by mail and already rely on it at very high rates, suggesting that restricting mail ballots would disenfranchise large numbers of lawful voters.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • New research into the interior of Mars further emphasizes that the Red Planet is a world of two very different halves.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of emphasizes
Verb
  • Eco effort To protect the pristine natural habitat, Jumeirah Olhahali implements successful conservation projects and educates guests on their role in the preservation efforts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
  • None of these institutions educates hundreds of thousands of students.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of educates
Verb
  • As Rankine clarifies in Triage, the pain of this moment is not exclusive to Black Americans.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The first clarifies that its PLX product does not provide law enforcement agencies with geolocation data, and the second says that the company has reached out to the complaint's authors to ask that the complaint against Penlink be withdrawn.
    — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of clarifies
Verb
  • This column highlights some of Rick’s favorite places and travel insights over a lifetime of exploring Europe and sharing his discoveries.
    — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Tang hopes that his research highlights the need for more education on the clinician side to reduce the disparities in response rates.
    — Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of highlights
Verb
  • Gallup found that just 2% of Fortune 500 CHROs strongly agree their performance management system actually inspires employees to improve.
    — Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But life on an island also inspires a scrappy, home-town camaraderie.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of inspires

Browse Nearby Words

illuminated
illuminates
illuminati
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Cite this Entry

“Illuminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illuminates. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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