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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word illustration distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of illustration are case, example, instance, sample, and specimen. While all these words mean "something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category," illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

Where would case be a reasonable alternative to illustration?

The meanings of case and illustration largely overlap; however, case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

a case of mistaken identity

When could example be used to replace illustration?

In some situations, the words example and illustration are roughly equivalent. However, example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

When would instance be a good substitute for illustration?

While the synonyms instance and illustration are close in meaning, instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

In what contexts can sample take the place of illustration?

The words sample and illustration can be used in similar contexts, but sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

show us a sample of your work

When might specimen be a better fit than illustration?

While in some cases nearly identical to illustration, specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

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 illustration The entire history of the Japanese productions (and several American film adaptations) is covered, complete with illustrations, interviews and behind-the-scenes images. Michael Taube, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025 And Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, will continue to sell $35 memorial T-shirts with an illustration of Kirk and a Bible verse on them. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025 Uncle Sam didn’t become a popular figure in the culture with cartoons and illustrations until after the War of 1812. Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025 Advertisement The great hyperbole The Great Nicobar project is an illustration of great speculation and hyperbole —one with terrible ecological costs. M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illustration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustration
Noun
  • Concept diagrams suggest projectiles could be configured for multiple missions, including anti-air fragmentation.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Students could then be assigned a diagram of the water cycle with missing labels; filling in the blanks on the diagram offers them a hands-on activity to reinforce the information in the quiz.
    Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But increasingly, that explanation doesn’t hold up.
    Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The 2026 tour for Lifes Rich Pageant — never an apostrophe and never an explanation — will kick off February 11 in Denver and run through March 16 in Bloomington, IN.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • How does reality stack up against its famous Hollywood depiction?
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In the early colonial period, publications often contained collections of high-profile personalities’ portraits, starting with the depiction of high-ranking Japanese colonial officials began in 1896, with an illustrated account of the Japanese conquest of the island.
    H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The reversal marks just one example of how Trump is rewriting Republicans’ decades-old playbook on countering Beijing’s influence in the United States and abroad.
    Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • American craft beer, for example, has grown over the last 30 years to take nearly 15% of US beer sales by volume.
    Nish Acharya, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Professional graphics cards designed for CAD work cost more upfront but deliver reliability when your team faces tight deadlines.
    Dmitrii Fadeev, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In addition to the Ryzen 7 AI CPU, this HP OmniBook X Flip includes Radeon 860M graphics, which will give you a leg up on content creation tasks like running video editing software.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Stanford Health Care has launched an AI assistant that helps its physicians draft interpretations of clinical tests and lab results to send to patients.
    Kate Ruder, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent encouraging taxpayer friendly interpretation of the tips deduction.
    Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hey Alexa, create an image of traders popping champagne in the New York Stock Exchange.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In images taken from the Israel-Gaza border on Tuesday, plumes of smoke could be seen rising above the city, which is the largest in the Gaza Strip.
    Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Enjoy ultra-smooth visuals, Dolby Atmos quad speakers for cinema-like audio, up to 128GB storage and all-day power with eight hours of battery life.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Complete with Nick Offerman voiceovers, CGI visuals, streaming TV buys, social media and mall advertising blitzes, its approach is as modern as its mission.
    Stacy Noblet, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Illustration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustration. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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