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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illustrative
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
One illustrative statistic from Politico: Michael Wolff’s 2018 Trump book sold over 25,000 copies in its first week, while his 2025 Trump book only sold around 3,000 copies in the corresponding interval.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Here's a little demonstration, purely for illustrative purposes, to give a better sense.
—Stephen Miller, Bluesky Social, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrative
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
One illustrative statistic from Politico: Michael Wolff’s 2018 Trump book sold over 25,000 copies in its first week, while his 2025 Trump book only sold around 3,000 copies in the corresponding interval.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Here's a little demonstration, purely for illustrative purposes, to give a better sense.
—Stephen Miller, Bluesky Social, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrative
Adjective
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The back-up dancers captured interpretive elements of Carrión’s discography and demonstrated their skill and strength while performing gravity-defying breakdancing numbers and theatrical battle scenes.—
Rosy Alvarez,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
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The pearl, in this analogy, is an interpretive reading.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 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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An explanatory note to the bill said that Russia has had no representative in the European Committee of the Council of Europe since 2023, with the country blocked from the body following its aggression in Ukraine.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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People are entities that generate explanatory knowledge: reasons, theories, models.—
Philip Maymin,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illustrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrative. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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