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
This illustrative image from October 5, 2021, shows a magnetic resonance imaging machine at Neurospin in Gif-sur-Yvette, southwest of Paris.
—
Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
An illustrative example of this approach is the joint initiative of the UN and Remesh, implemented in 2021, with an AI powered platform.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 6 July 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
That support was life-changing (note: names are illustrative and used to represent the real work happening in our schools).
—Shellye Davis, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrative
Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
An illustrative example of this approach is the joint initiative of the UN and Remesh, implemented in 2021, with an AI powered platform.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 6 July 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
That support was life-changing (note: names are illustrative and used to represent the real work happening in our schools).
—Shellye Davis, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for illustrative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrative
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
-
Along the way, Robbins spices his story through illuminative moments and mini-biographies.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
14 Oct. 2017
Adjective
-
Even in previous eras, doctors were quick to spot any indication of stress and nervousness in a patient and ascribe to it a certain explanatory power.—
Tom Zeller Jr.
July 30,
Literary Hub,
30 July 2025
-
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 22 Aug. 2025.
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