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
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
Poems by 96 area poets are paired with illustrative drawings by 40 visual artists in this exhibition, representing a community view on social justice issues.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 10 June 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
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
Poems by 96 area poets are paired with illustrative drawings by 40 visual artists in this exhibition, representing a community view on social justice issues.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 10 June 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
-
The pearl, in this analogy, is an interpretive reading.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Along the route, Rocky Mountaineer guides imbued the landscape with an interpretive history of the region’s gold rush and 19th-century Canadian Pacific Railway landmarks, as well as an understanding of Indigenous culture in the two provinces.—
The Editors,
Outside,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Pallarés, though, thought this traditional idea lacked a bit of explanatory power.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
22 Aug. 2025
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The curved, accessible walkways are clearly signed and more than one explanatory exhibit demonstrates the superiority of planting indigenous or highly adaptive plants.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illustrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrative. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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