1
2
as in to illuminate
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration lavishly illustrated the monograph on Caravaggio with color plates

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

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 illustrate Opioids illustrate the point most starkly. Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025 The anecdote also illustrates a leadership philosophy Weeks has maintained throughout his tenure. Dave Smith, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025 This aligns with research showing that rural social identity predicts skepticism of external experts, illustrating a rural orientation toward prudent distrust. Scott R. Schell, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 While most of the largest cities in the country have seen permit activity drop, a study by HomeAbroad also found that San Jose’s figures illustrated the most precipitous drop. Devan Patel, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illustrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrate
Verb
  • Like something out of an early Transformers movie, researchers at Caltech have just demonstrated how a humanoid and a drone can team up to accomplish multiple forms of movement.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The department intends to make sure participants have a safe space to demonstrate and intends stop any unlawful activity.
    Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Walking deeper into a smelly cave along the Albania-Greece border, cavers shined their flashlights along the rock walls and illuminated a massive spider colony.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The blade flares into existence, its scarlet glow illuminating the cave, brighter than the lava, brighter than the runes.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, a founder scaling across Europe must incorporate separate entities in each country, untangle regulatory and employment codes in multiple languages and markets, and explain to engineers in Munich why their stock options are treated differently to their colleagues’ in Madrid.
    Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The connection appeared to be partly explained by higher levels of a gut bacterium called Eggerthella, a bacterium previously linked to inflammation and found in greater abundance among people with depression.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Responding to one analyst who believed the closing of the Versace deal was complete, Guerra clarified that the transaction is not closed.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The report does not clarify if this will lead to widespread layoffs.
    Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Illustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrate. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on illustrate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!