1
as in demonstrating
to show or make clear by using examples
she illustrated her point with a story about her experiences as a field anthropologist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illuminating
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
as in explaining
to make plain or understandable
the recent devastating fire illustrates the need for improved safety codes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illustrating
The activation created a cultural moment, illustrating what tech merchandise can achieve.
—
Jay Deutsch, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The gesture drew thunderous applause from the audience of more than 5,000 guests, and the event raised nearly $700,000, illustrating how Gaultier used his platform to raise awareness and funding for a key American charity.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Taxidermy would become the visual medium par excellence illustrating European expansion—one far more accessible to a broader crowd than anything in books, private collections, or even early zoos.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 18 May 2026
Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI's growing footprint in daily life.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
The shot of the car hurtling off the cliff is one of cinema’s most enduring images, illustrating unbreakable friendship, victory and freedom.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
An autographed jersey from Bobby Cox still hangs in Freddie Freeman’s Atlanta residence, illustrating the bond between player and former manager.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
European officials had welcomed Ukraine's unilateral move as a goodwill gesture illustrating its readiness for a peace settlement.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
Touching the Art also delves into erasure and gaslighting, illustrating the all-too-common silencing that occurs when a family member speaks up about violence or abuse.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Jay Deutsch, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The gesture drew thunderous applause from the audience of more than 5,000 guests, and the event raised nearly $700,000, illustrating how Gaultier used his platform to raise awareness and funding for a key American charity.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Taxidermy would become the visual medium par excellence illustrating European expansion—one far more accessible to a broader crowd than anything in books, private collections, or even early zoos.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 18 May 2026
Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI's growing footprint in daily life.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
The shot of the car hurtling off the cliff is one of cinema’s most enduring images, illustrating unbreakable friendship, victory and freedom.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
An autographed jersey from Bobby Cox still hangs in Freddie Freeman’s Atlanta residence, illustrating the bond between player and former manager.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
European officials had welcomed Ukraine's unilateral move as a goodwill gesture illustrating its readiness for a peace settlement.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
Touching the Art also delves into erasure and gaslighting, illustrating the all-too-common silencing that occurs when a family member speaks up about violence or abuse.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrating
Verb
-
Northrop Grumman has announced that its Jackal precision strike missile has completed another successful flight test, demonstrating the rapidly evolving technological maturity of the weapon system.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
And public anger grew after video showed an activist being dragged by a private security guard while demonstrating at the site.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Chef Kevin Liao also distinguishes the kitchen with his illuminating Toisanese specialties, a regional subgenre of Cantonese cuisine either rarely seen in Los Angeles or so deeply assimilated into more generalized Cantonese menus that its distinctions are hard to parse.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Weaving her personal history with those of women from the more distant past, Maglaque doesn’t strive for universality, but a deep connectivity that makes the book at points illuminating and infuriating.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Narula discussed the potential links between GLP-1s and breast cancer, explaining that after menopause, fat cells produce estrogen throughout the body, and higher levels of estrogen could translate to a higher risk of breast cancer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
After taking fans along to a series of appointments, Mellencamp posted a video of her doctor explaining the status of her disease.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Also within 60 days, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must consider clarifying that potential deportation or loss of wages may be relevant factors when evaluating a borrower’s ability to repay.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Perez, however, has avoided clarifying the situation in public appearances in recent weeks.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illustrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrating. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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