1
as in inspires
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
a favorite line of an Eastern Church hymn reads, "through fast-closed doors Thou camest Thy Disciples to illume"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illumines
to supply with light
during the vigil service the church's Gothic interior was illumed by the light of hundreds of tapers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illumes
Verb
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But what inspires me is the idea of putting something beautiful into the world.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026 -
So my hope is that at least a single candidate ups their game and comes to voters with not just attacks, but something that inspires, something that sets them apart.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Kate Wong,
Scientific American,
1 May 2026
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At the heart of this is also the aim to create an ecosystem for young filmmakers – one that empowers and educates them on the importance of marketing and distribution so that great stories don’t just get made, but truly reach audiences.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But a sweeping new analysis from Morgan Stanley Research offers a finding that cuts against the fear — and quietly illuminates something far more consequential about how AI is reshaping the American economy.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Their struggle has upturned the tabletop candle that illuminates the scene and any moment will surely extinguish it, effacing the giddy pattern formed by the writhing bodies and glowing, veiny bladder skin.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For some, a Day 3 NFL draft selection lights a competitive fuse, so to speak.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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Long evenings stretch out, iced drinks sweat in your hand, and porch lights flicker on just as the air begins to hum with those all-too-familiar pests.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Illumes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illumes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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