1
as in demonstrating
to show or make clear by using examples
she illustrated her point with a story about her experiences as a field anthropologist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illuminating
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration
lavishly illustrated the monograph on Caravaggio with color plates
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in explaining
to make plain or understandable
the recent devastating fire illustrates the need for improved safety codes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illustrating
Chen Mengjie, head of German Operations, revealed that overseas business now accounts for 50 percent of Style3D’s total sales, illustrating the company’s rapid international expansion.
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Li Jun, Footwear News, 11 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Adam Sandler was honored with the Career Achievement Award, following his busy year with Happy Gilmore 2 and Jay Kelly, illustrating the actor’s range.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
The brilliantly blue bolt can be seen illuminating the inside of a storm cloud above the historic city, but glimpses like these can go far beyond simply illustrating lightning’s grandeur.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
That moment really opened my eyes to how this tactile process of image making with sunlight, chemistry and kelp could translate my experiences underwater by illustrating both the scale and the incredible details of the kelp forest.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
The robot advanced toward a mannequin on stage and struck it, illustrating the potential for physical harm.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 23 Dec. 2025
By focusing on the persistence of private life during wartime, the book widens from an investigation into a kind of communal portrait, literally illustrating the way injustice contorts and is resisted by people, together and alone.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Such patterns are common in nature, from lightning scars to tidal channels, illustrating the movement of fluids and energy through different surfaces.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 12 Dec. 2025
The glittery red says both pretty and sparkly but also hints at a sinister feeling of blood, perfectly illustrating the light and dark sides of the beauty industry.
—Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrating
Verb
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The first marches took place in downtown Tehran, with participants demonstrating against rising inflation and the falling value of the national currency, the rial.—
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The situation escalates when Ravi is killed on Choudhary’s orders, demonstrating the vulnerability of the team and placing greater pressure on Meena to act decisively.—
Verb
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Her transcendent new novel, Song of Ancient Lovers, translated by Caro De Robertis, layers chapters illuminating the allure of the story of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon over the centuries with a contemporary love story set in refugee camps in Yemen.—
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Videos shared on social media showed flashes of light illuminating the night sky followed by loud booms echoing through residential areas.—
Verb
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Fishback referenced Rain directly when explaining his proposal.—
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In explaining that earlier decision, Lamberth chastised government officials for failing to provide any evidence to support its claims about national security concerns.—
Verb
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Rather than clarifying events surrounding Epstein's death, the footage appears to complicate the official narrative, and contradicts some prior statements about the prison's surveillance system.—
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The death certificates for Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner are clarifying the timeline of their deaths.—
Cite this Entry
“Illustrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrating. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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