unilluminating
1
8.1
- adjective
- /ˌʌnɪˈluːmɪneɪtɪŋ/
- It is indeed a quite possible translation, albeit a rather timid and unilluminating one.
Examples
-
That is indeed a possible translation, albeit a rather timid and unilluminating one.
Academic text (1994) -
Late at night, the meeting ended, cathartic but unilluminating.
Fiction book (1991) -
The lecture was filled with jargon and turned out to be quite unilluminating for the audience.
-
Her explanation of the complex theory was unilluminating, leaving everyone more confused than before.
-
Despite the lengthy report, the findings were largely unilluminating and did not clarify the main issues.
Synonyms
1
9.3
Making something hard to understand on purpose to hide the truth
1
5.7
An answer that does not give clear information or feelings
1
6.9
Does not give useful information or new understanding
Causing confusion on purpose
Antonyms
How Clear
40
4.5
24
4.3
∞
1.0
1
8.1
305
3.2
134
4.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
unilluminating = illuminating (transparent) = un + illuminate + ing
The adjective is formed by adding the productive negative prefix 'un-' to 'illuminating', yielding the straightforward meaning 'not making clearer'.
Etymology
The word unilluminating is built from un- 'not' and illuminate 'to light' or 'make clear'. So something unilluminating fails to 'shed light' on a topic, meaning it does not help you understand.