as in interpretive
serving to explain
an illustrative analogy in which the relationship between God and humanity is likened to that between a shepherd and his flock
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Recent Examples of illustrative
These tools provide illustrative estimates.
—
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
The vehicle depicted throughout was created using AI technology and is for illustrative purposes.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 6 Dec. 2025
And yet, the tension captured in that comment is illustrative of a dynamic that has made the Bears exciting and fun to root for this season.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
The title track is particularly illustrative of the importance of the road to his songwriting.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrative
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
The vehicle depicted throughout was created using AI technology and is for illustrative purposes.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 6 Dec. 2025
And yet, the tension captured in that comment is illustrative of a dynamic that has made the Bears exciting and fun to root for this season.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
The title track is particularly illustrative of the importance of the road to his songwriting.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrative
Adjective
-
This securitization expands presidential interpretive authority, concentrates discretion, and narrows space for dissent by framing disagreement as vulnerability.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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The move comes after staff at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia removed interpretive panels about slavery from the President’s House historical site.—
Outside,
Outside,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There are various interpretative signs and points of interest along the way, including famous Creek Street and both Ketchikan museums.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
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With her powerful voice and hypnotic interpretative quality, Peluso seems tailor-made for this.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Hybrid lanterns that meet the aforementioned criteria are indeed out there, waiting to illuminate your next campsite, glamping trip, picnic, late-night reading session, or simply to add a little illuminative flare to that embarrassingly barren bookshelf in time for the next Zoom meeting.—
J.D. Simkins,
Sunset Magazine,
17 Feb. 2022
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Along the way, Robbins spices his story through illuminative moments and mini-biographies.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
14 Oct. 2017
Adjective
-
First the explanatory power from seeing the big picture once hidden.—
Emil Steiner,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
While the theory was meant to be explanatory, in the sense that observers used it to explain apparently irrational behavior, it has sometimes been used in a prescriptive way, as an approach consciously adopted by leaders.—
Andrew Latham,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illustrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrative. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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