1
as in diagram
something that visually explains or decorates a text
this book on birds has gorgeous illustrations
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2
as in explanation
a statement that makes something clear
forced to give several illustrations until she was understood
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3
as in depiction
a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing
the doctor sketched an illustration to explain the procedure to the patient
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4
as in example
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like
chose one essay as an illustration of the high quality of the collection
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of illustration
In lieu of photography, the book is charmingly filled with illustrations of produce by the two authors; Evans created the line drawings, and Brennan is a watercolorist.
—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2026
With its gentle rhythm and soothing illustrations, the story creates a calming bedtime ritual as the bunny bids farewell to everything in his world one by one.
—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
The suite of illustrations first appeared in The Saturday Evening Post magazine in November 1943, at the height of World War II.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 June 2026
Rockwell, who became famous for his illustrations of everyday American life that graced covers of the Saturday Evening Post, spent hours at the White House people-watching from a chair in the West Wing lobby, McLaurin said.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for illustration
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2026
With its gentle rhythm and soothing illustrations, the story creates a calming bedtime ritual as the bunny bids farewell to everything in his world one by one.
—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
The suite of illustrations first appeared in The Saturday Evening Post magazine in November 1943, at the height of World War II.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 June 2026
Rockwell, who became famous for his illustrations of everyday American life that graced covers of the Saturday Evening Post, spent hours at the White House people-watching from a chair in the West Wing lobby, McLaurin said.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for illustration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustration
Noun
-
Now, yes, staring at the ceiling long enough to draw you a diagram of the paint peeling.
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Someone other than the original builder should review the code or process diagrams.
Noun
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And most interestingly, her chyron identifies her as a Freelance Journalist with no further explanation.
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Some explanations of bodily difference were obviously wrong, such as physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush’s conviction that the dark skin of African Americans was a disease, derived from leprosy.
Noun
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Like that 1851 depiction of Washington, these portraits smudge the details of history in favor of a fantasy.
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Friendship was a tender, absurd depiction of a one-sided, quasi-platonic infatuation.
Noun
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Their French 75, which is made with cognac, lemon and muscadet, is a perfect example thanks to a beautiful balance of elegance and ingenuity.
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One example is a joint venture with CDA near the future Route 390 and I-490 interchange next to O’Hare.
Noun
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Merrillville was listed as a likely spot for the smaller facilities in a graphic accompanying the article.
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This graphic shows the rain chances in South Florida over the next seven days.
Noun
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Altitude can also produce meaningfully different interpretations of the grape—higher sites can create wines that are more mineral and tense, while other locations yield softer and more fragrant expressions.
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The skinny trouser re-emerged at Dior and Junya Watanabe, styled with larger proportions on top for a fresh interpretation of the silhouette.
Noun
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The flag was also draped over Khamenei’s casket in images published last week by his official X account.
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Rodríguez Castro, the person said, projects a similar tough-guy image.
Noun
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Type a topic into the input field, and the platform spins up a structured presentation with smart layouts, professional copy, and visuals across every slide.
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There’s even a tool allowing anyone to convert space visuals into sound, creating their own song of the cosmos.
Cite this Entry
“Illustration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustration. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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