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
The first full moon of the new year will reach peak illumination at 2:26 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, in California, according to Time and Date, an online calendar.
—
Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 11 Jan. 2025
And a 1,300-lumen dual-beam headlight plus a braking tail-light with turn signaling ensures daylight visibility and night-time illumination.
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2025
Through countless negotiations and purchases since then, the Times Square ball evolved, varying in weight, size and illumination.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024
Few innovators achieve the intensity and scope of innovation that Nikola Tesla did, but innovators like Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Steve Jobs talk freely of the role of intuition in their breakthroughs, especially in the illumination and verification stages.
—Hulan Hagen, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illumination 
Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 11 Jan. 2025
And a 1,300-lumen dual-beam headlight plus a braking tail-light with turn signaling ensures daylight visibility and night-time illumination.
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2025
Through countless negotiations and purchases since then, the Times Square ball evolved, varying in weight, size and illumination.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024
Few innovators achieve the intensity and scope of innovation that Nikola Tesla did, but innovators like Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Steve Jobs talk freely of the role of intuition in their breakthroughs, especially in the illumination and verification stages.
—Hulan Hagen, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illumination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumination
Noun
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There were no noted dissents, although Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch gave their own explanations for why the law should be upheld.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA TODAY,
17 Jan. 2025
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Lynch leaves behind a body of work that defies explanation yet demands exploration, ensuring audiences will return to them again and again, captivated and confounded.—
Darryn King,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Further, generative image editing is now available offline and a new virtual aperture too gives you real-time control over depth and brightness.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
24 Jan. 2025
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Southern Collard Greens Recipe Cabbage Use it to add brightness to cabbage dishes.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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When touched, its hood and tail glow with a constellation of blue-green dots like an underwater planetarium.—
Jude Coleman,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2025
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It's packed with rice powder, a chef's kiss of skin-loving enzymes and vitamins (A, B2, B12, and E) that soften, brighten, and give your skin a plump, healthy glow.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Aamir’s sculptures fuse scientific reality with interpretations created by her imagination.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Their interpretation of the espresso martini looks to Mexico.—
Christina Liao,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Family circles will have wrapped themselves in the holy pleasures of the great occasion, and everywhere the grand old holiday will have been introduced with all the majesty and brilliancy which clings around the hallowed name of Christmas.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American-Statesman,
23 Dec. 2024
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The Red Planet, shining at magnitude –1.4, is 40° to the east-northeast, and the king of planets, Jove, still near its greatest brilliancy for the year at magnitude –2.8, lies 46° west-southwest of Luna.—
Michael E. Bakich,
Discover Magazine,
7 Nov. 2022
Noun
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Watch on Deadline The comic books are the latest projects in Gaiman’s creative catalogue that have paused or been canceled in light of the news, which Gaiman addressed on his personal blog, denying the allegations.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
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Why This Year’s Awards Matter More Than Ever The 2025 She Rocks Awards are particularly timely in light of ongoing discussions about gender equality in music.—
Holly Alvarado,
Orange County Register,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And that was really what started this concept of the illustrations, and the story happening in the book.—
Gillian Telling,
People.com,
22 Jan. 2025
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Photograph: Mother Jones illustration; Getty This story originally appeared on Mother Jones and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.—
Anna Merlan,
WIRED,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Here is a test of how a director can mine brilliance out of a single location, with only two actors.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2025
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Build layers to customize your shine, from subtle to high-impact brilliance.—
Jessica Diner,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Illumination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumination. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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