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
Company examples are provided for illustrative purposes only.
—
Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Sarah Borden, a philosophy professor at Wheaton, noted the wealth of illustrative stories that Wood shared with students in his classes as a way to enlighten them.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Radiology provides an illustrative example of automation overreach.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
The incident is illustrative of something experts have long feared in the contentious South China Sea; one mistake by one captain or pilot could lead to a superpower military confrontation.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrative
Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Sarah Borden, a philosophy professor at Wheaton, noted the wealth of illustrative stories that Wood shared with students in his classes as a way to enlighten them.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Radiology provides an illustrative example of automation overreach.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
The incident is illustrative of something experts have long feared in the contentious South China Sea; one mistake by one captain or pilot could lead to a superpower military confrontation.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrative
Adjective
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There’s an Asian Elvis impersonator, a kid sporting a fake beard, a nurse with mime makeup, and even a few interpretive dancers thrown into the mix.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
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This includes visitor centers, campgrounds, and interpretive programming.—
Maryam Siddiqi,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Oct. 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
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Outside of school, reading newspapers my parents would leave on the kitchen table and listening to the radio or explanatory YouTube videos were my favorite ways to learn.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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In other words, this explanation is plausible, but limited in its explanatory power, while simultaneously possessing the drawback of bringing up new puzzles.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illustrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrative. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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