ILLUMINE Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

illumine

verb

i-ˈlü-mən

Definition of illumine

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

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

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 illumine 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 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 Geraldine walked over to Felix and Jane’s for fish soup, through long autumn shadows in the park, haze rising like smoke from the grass, illumined by the low sun. — Tessa Hadley, New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2026 Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumine

Verb

From the deck, Pawlak could see lightning illuminating the coastline like a fireworks show.

— Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
What to read next Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, Reflect Orbital's vision is to deliver light on demand to solar power plants at night and to illuminate warzones and areas struck by natural disasters.

— Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of illuminate

Verb

Its young people are increasingly educated and ambitious but many are frustrated over fierce competition for limited jobs.

— Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
During the two decades of American occupation, Afghanistan experienced a sort of peace, one in which women could be educated, work as professionals, and even serve in the military.

— Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of educate

Verb

Passionate Mars lights your 11th House of Friends and Community, forming a harmonious trine to transformative Pluto in your 7th House of Partnership.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
Digital footage obtained by The Times showed large aerial fireworks lighted at close range, while another video showed fireworks being thrown by an unknown individual into the crowd.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of light

Browse Nearby Words

illuminative

illumine

illumined

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“Illumine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumine. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of illumine

verb

Example Sentences

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