1
as in diagrams
something that visually explains or decorates a text
this book on birds has gorgeous illustrations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in explanations
a statement that makes something clear
forced to give several illustrations until she was understood
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pictures
a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing
the doctor sketched an illustration to explain the procedure to the patient
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in examples
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illustrations
At night, gather in front of a crackling fire for pre-dinner drinks in the drawing room, which is filled with illustrations of Parisian opera stars, antique finds, and Monopoly.
—
Harriet Compston, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Gregory Shamus / Getty Images The designs were inspired by the Dolomite Mountains and bold pattern illustrations, Ben Sherman says, and incorporate heritage checks and Fair Isle knitwear.
—Melissa Gaffney, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Artworks by seven artists include illustrations, sculptures, screen printing, comics and collaborative projects that explore themes of humor, nostalgia and the subtle complexities of life.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
The scenic design of Sara Ryung Clement and the lights of Paul Whitaker bring Eastman’s illustrations to vibrant life, as do the boldly colored costumes of Danielle Nieves.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
In a shocking piece of reporting, Cora Engelbrecht speaks to five Iranians who were present at the massacre and—with the help of video evidence and illustrations by Matt Huynh—shares their stories.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2026
Valentine’s Day sessions include live watercolor illustrations, adding an extra romantic touch.
—Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The European Rail Traffic Management System, now rolling out across the continent and beyond, gives them real-time target speeds, illustrations of braking curves and line status information many miles ahead, allowing for smoother, safer and more energy-efficient operations.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Or, are you drawn to bright colors, bold illustrations, and more of a maximalist vibe?
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Harriet Compston, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Gregory Shamus / Getty Images The designs were inspired by the Dolomite Mountains and bold pattern illustrations, Ben Sherman says, and incorporate heritage checks and Fair Isle knitwear.
—Melissa Gaffney, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Artworks by seven artists include illustrations, sculptures, screen printing, comics and collaborative projects that explore themes of humor, nostalgia and the subtle complexities of life.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
The scenic design of Sara Ryung Clement and the lights of Paul Whitaker bring Eastman’s illustrations to vibrant life, as do the boldly colored costumes of Danielle Nieves.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
In a shocking piece of reporting, Cora Engelbrecht speaks to five Iranians who were present at the massacre and—with the help of video evidence and illustrations by Matt Huynh—shares their stories.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2026
Valentine’s Day sessions include live watercolor illustrations, adding an extra romantic touch.
—Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The European Rail Traffic Management System, now rolling out across the continent and beyond, gives them real-time target speeds, illustrations of braking curves and line status information many miles ahead, allowing for smoother, safer and more energy-efficient operations.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Or, are you drawn to bright colors, bold illustrations, and more of a maximalist vibe?
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrations
Noun
-
Inspired by both pre-Columbian cultures and modern scientific theories, Jensen made energetic diagrams of shapes, symbols, and numbers in loud complementary colors, using thick globs of paint; the results generate a fascinating friction.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Wednesday night that will build upon its current deal, which was limited to cloud storage for city documents and programs that allow employees to create notes, diagrams, centralized landing pages and electronic signatures.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The challenge is confirming biological activity while eliminating non-biologic explanations.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Gabbard’s office declined to answer questions about the changing explanations for her involvement and pointed to Bondi’s comments.—
David Klepper,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Deuxmoi showed pictures of McRae and Hughes dining at Anton’s in the West Village the month prior.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In these 2-foot-square pictures, long-haired nude female figures in close Edenic companionship with wild beasts poke their heads out from behind lush tropical foliage, and stare, unsettlingly, straight outward.—
Benjamin Lima,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Any internet user can play the role of researcher, with people submitting examples of infringement and LightBar’s small team of moderators verifying entries.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The sale is one of the largest examples of a growing trend in California in which environmental groups and state agencies are helping tribes acquire ancestral lands, often centuries after they were forcibly removed.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The stock moves weren’t dramatic, but Ullal’s comments are notable because Nvidia has dominated the market for graphics processing units (GPUs) in AI since the industry started taking off a little over three years ago with the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.—
Kristina Partsinevelos,Ari Levy,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Weekly measles cases in the US Unable to view our graphics?—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The film juxtaposes intimate vérité of Yo’s last year with Anna’s creative interpretations of Yo’s dramatic life stories.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
-
There are different interpretations of Valentine's Day, according to Pepper Schwartz, professor of sociology at the University of Washington in Seattle and the author of 25 books on love, sexuality and commitment.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to common depictions of his family’s dynamic, Mamdani inherited his leftist political ideology from his father, the anti-colonialist Columbia professor, and his dimpled charm and flair for the theatrical from his filmmaker mother.—
Rebecca Traister,
Vulture,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Gone with the Wind earned Margaret Mitchell the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937, though many themes of the book are recognized as problematic today, including racist and stereotypical depictions of Black characters and the glorifications of slavery and the Civil War.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Joe Brusuelas, senior economist at RSM US, highlighted a few of those factors when pushing back on White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett’s claim Monday that subdued job gains are primarily the result of lower population figures and higher productivity.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Since the retail figures aren’t adjusted for inflation, weaker figures could be impacted by steep holiday discounts.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illustrations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrations. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
