enlightens

verb

present tense third-person singular of enlighten
1
as in informs
to give information to the lecturer at the planetarium enlightened us about the latest astronomical discoveries

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in educates
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding many people around the world have been enlightened by the teachings of Gautama Buddha

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 enlightens This style of theater both enlightens and entertains, each actor stepping out of the ensemble inside Kelleher’s direction that teeters on the edge of heavy-handidness without ever getting there. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026 The Harlem Book of the Dead, conceived and nurtured by Camille Billops, cherishes that remembrance and enlightens us as only memory can. — Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025 Hopefully, that prepares them to be active and engaged citizens of the democracy that George Washington fought so hard to secure and enlightens them to do something with their lives that will make the world a better place. — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlightens
  1. informs
  2. educates
  3. tells
  4. inspires
  5. advises
  6. instructs
Verb
  • This significant achievement informs her choice to customize a piece that reflects her strength, creativity and tenacity.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This strand of the film gradually informs the secrets and surprises of the later timelines.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of informs
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
  • Even if newly manufactured, a Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece tells stories of centuries which makes the present that much richer.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This tells clearly who is watching over the pipeline of value creation.
    — Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of tells
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
Verb
  • Albana Vrioni, advises growth-stage companies on governance, investor relations, and transformation.
    — Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Some investors may be tempted to shift entirely away from bonds to cash, but McCarron advises against it since cash doesn't beat inflation.
    — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of advises
Verb
  • The Gap Between Agreement And Action​ Most change guidance instructs leaders how to gain commitment.
    — John Radman, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Using this simple sequence, Grok then follows the command as soon as the user instructs the assistant to summarize the page.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of instructs

Browse Nearby Words

enlightenment
enlightens
enlist
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Cite this Entry

“Enlightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlightens. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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