1
as in diagram
something that visually explains or decorates a text
this book on birds has gorgeous illustrations
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2
as in explanation
a statement that makes something clear
forced to give several illustrations until she was understood
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3
as in depiction
a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing
the doctor sketched an illustration to explain the procedure to the patient
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4
as in example
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like
chose one essay as an illustration of the high quality of the collection
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of illustration
In lieu of photography, the book is charmingly filled with illustrations of produce by the two authors; Evans created the line drawings, and Brennan is a watercolorist.
—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2026
With its gentle rhythm and soothing illustrations, the story creates a calming bedtime ritual as the bunny bids farewell to everything in his world one by one.
—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
The suite of illustrations first appeared in The Saturday Evening Post magazine in November 1943, at the height of World War II.
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Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 June 2026
Rockwell, who became famous for his illustrations of everyday American life that graced covers of the Saturday Evening Post, spent hours at the White House people-watching from a chair in the West Wing lobby, McLaurin said.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for illustration
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2026
With its gentle rhythm and soothing illustrations, the story creates a calming bedtime ritual as the bunny bids farewell to everything in his world one by one.
—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
The suite of illustrations first appeared in The Saturday Evening Post magazine in November 1943, at the height of World War II.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 June 2026
Rockwell, who became famous for his illustrations of everyday American life that graced covers of the Saturday Evening Post, spent hours at the White House people-watching from a chair in the West Wing lobby, McLaurin said.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for illustration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustration
Noun
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Now, yes, staring at the ceiling long enough to draw you a diagram of the paint peeling.
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Someone other than the original builder should review the code or process diagrams.
Noun
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Espeland offers a technical explanation.
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Another expert — the state archaeologist — also will study the hole, likely this week, even as some remain skeptical of the sinkhole explanation.
Noun
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All of those things might be present in a single realistic depiction of abuse, but a reader might fail to see the same nuance in such a story.
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But Comer and Jackman’s roles reverse the ballad’s depictions.
Noun
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The Chicago suburb of Kenilworth and the Washington, DC, suburb of Chevy Chase, for example, have fewer than 5,000 households each.
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This is just one example of the many good Turkish Clinics that offer hair transplants at lower prices than those in some markets.
Noun
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Merrillville was listed as a likely spot for the smaller facilities in a graphic accompanying the article.
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This graphic shows the rain chances in South Florida over the next seven days.
Noun
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Altitude can also produce meaningfully different interpretations of the grape—higher sites can create wines that are more mineral and tense, while other locations yield softer and more fragrant expressions.
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The skinny trouser re-emerged at Dior and Junya Watanabe, styled with larger proportions on top for a fresh interpretation of the silhouette.
Noun
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Cops released an image of him aboard the bus wearing a white hoodie and are asking the public’s help tracking him down.
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Some satellite images even show evidence of fire damage, consistent with reports of firefighters supporting the emergency response.
Noun
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The new visual features a partial outline of a person, intended to communicate movement.
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This shift matters because visuals have long served as evidence for scientific claims.
Cite this Entry
“Illustration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustration. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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