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
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 illustrating
While the details of the case are particular to one individual, experts say the outcome is far too common, illustrating the need for greater vigilance of, and advocacy around, a threat that kills a person every six minutes, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance.
—
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
That's why, for example, the US government has funded a series of Landsat satellites since 1972 to create an uninterrupted data catalog illustrating changes in global land use.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors in this case showed extensive communications between mother and son, illustrating their close relationship and how Donna kept track of things for Charles, who in turn solved all kinds of problems for her.
—Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Dunn pointed out gleaming replicas of these artifacts, on display in the exhibition, alongside surfboards illustrating the evolution of the spot throughout history.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2025
But that’s no reason to discount nor dismiss his unsentimental directorial debut, an authentic and brutal experience illustrating the battles warring inside the head of a troubled guy just released from prison after serving 153 days.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
The performers will be seen sharing some of their most personal songs and the stories behind them in front of a small audience and large, nearly wraparound screens illustrating those tales.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Live entertainment is becoming a testing ground for portable, low-impact solar power, illustrating how innovation can expand beyond stadiums to industrial rooftops, disaster relief efforts, and developing countries where traditional solar panels are too heavy or expensive.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The International Shark Attack File (ISAF), maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History, recorded 71 shark-bite incidents worldwide for the full year 2024, illustrating year-to-year variability in totals and the difference between midyear counts and complete annual statistics.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
That's why, for example, the US government has funded a series of Landsat satellites since 1972 to create an uninterrupted data catalog illustrating changes in global land use.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors in this case showed extensive communications between mother and son, illustrating their close relationship and how Donna kept track of things for Charles, who in turn solved all kinds of problems for her.
—Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Dunn pointed out gleaming replicas of these artifacts, on display in the exhibition, alongside surfboards illustrating the evolution of the spot throughout history.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2025
But that’s no reason to discount nor dismiss his unsentimental directorial debut, an authentic and brutal experience illustrating the battles warring inside the head of a troubled guy just released from prison after serving 153 days.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
The performers will be seen sharing some of their most personal songs and the stories behind them in front of a small audience and large, nearly wraparound screens illustrating those tales.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Live entertainment is becoming a testing ground for portable, low-impact solar power, illustrating how innovation can expand beyond stadiums to industrial rooftops, disaster relief efforts, and developing countries where traditional solar panels are too heavy or expensive.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The International Shark Attack File (ISAF), maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History, recorded 71 shark-bite incidents worldwide for the full year 2024, illustrating year-to-year variability in totals and the difference between midyear counts and complete annual statistics.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrating
Verb
-
Soon, Geoffrey Hinton and his graduate students began demonstrating that neural networks, trained on large datasets and run on GPUs, could do things—like classify images into a thousand different categories—that would have been impossible in the late 1980s.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Fahey Rush was often responsible for demonstrating how the company’s TV audiences — in the linear era, some of the industry’s youngest — behaved and consumed media and advertising.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Conybeare, a classics scholar, intertwines learned exegesis with examples of Augustine’s human idiosyncrasies, offering illuminating analyses of the philosopher’s seminal texts and ideas—including his theory of original sin—and of the role that his heritage played in his self-conception.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Also visible in the picture is a bright green aurora, illuminating the Canadian sky near Edmonton.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The film opens just as its predecessor ended, with a handy recap explaining how Ne Zha and his angelic counterpart, Ao Bing, ended up in need of bodily reincarnation.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Amorim has been clearer and more consistent in explaining his tactical ideas and vision for the future.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Building in a few minutes at the end of meetings for clarifying questions shows that understanding is a priority.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The last two years have been clarifying, and not only in unpleasant ways.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illustrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrating. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share