1
as in diagrams
something that visually explains or decorates a text
this book on birds has gorgeous illustrations
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of illustrations
The maps are based on the Pew Research Center's publishing of several visual illustrations, based on its 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study, on Tuesday.
—
Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The 336-page hardcover book features 300 color illustrations and retails for $75.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
Even just the cover and illustrations?
—Essence, 16 Sep. 2025
The Business Case For Inclusive Innovation While all of these examples are interesting illustrations of prosocial AI in practice, the double beauty of this transformation lies in its economic sustainability.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Ditto the Hammer Studios output of the 1950s and ’60s, Bernie Wrightson’s definitive illustrations of the Creature, oodles of Gothic literature, Roger Corman’s Poe pictures, and Mario Bava’s retina-searing color creep shows.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Aniston released her debut children’s book, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life, with illustrations by Bruno Jacob, in October 2024 as the first in a four-book deal between the actress, HarperCollins and Invisible Universe.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Concerns included graphic illustrations, discussion of drug or alcohol use and transgender acceptance.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The store supplied her with bondage pants, kilts, and T-shirts printed with obscene illustrations.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The 336-page hardcover book features 300 color illustrations and retails for $75.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
Even just the cover and illustrations?
—Essence, 16 Sep. 2025
The Business Case For Inclusive Innovation While all of these examples are interesting illustrations of prosocial AI in practice, the double beauty of this transformation lies in its economic sustainability.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Ditto the Hammer Studios output of the 1950s and ’60s, Bernie Wrightson’s definitive illustrations of the Creature, oodles of Gothic literature, Roger Corman’s Poe pictures, and Mario Bava’s retina-searing color creep shows.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Aniston released her debut children’s book, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life, with illustrations by Bruno Jacob, in October 2024 as the first in a four-book deal between the actress, HarperCollins and Invisible Universe.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Concerns included graphic illustrations, discussion of drug or alcohol use and transgender acceptance.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The store supplied her with bondage pants, kilts, and T-shirts printed with obscene illustrations.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrations
Noun
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Countless users have commented on them, zoomed in on them, slowed them to a crawl, theorized about them or marked them up with arrows and diagrams and published the results.—
Zeynep Tufekci,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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Similar to architectural blueprints or circuit diagrams, these standardized templates provide simplified overviews of complex organizations, and can be used to turn an ailing company around, or design a healthy one from the ground up.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The cause of the Little Ice Age is unclear, but volcanic activity belching volcanic ash high into the atmosphere and blocking sunlight is one of the most likely explanations.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Friesen and coauthors share some general explanations.—
Anna Marija Helt,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lord entered the truck in competitions in Louisiana and Texas and loved to park it in front of the Henderson building to take pictures of it, Michelle said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Some of my friends were pressured to send inappropriate pictures, contacted by strangers, and exposed to content way beyond our age.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Other examples would make a Soviet propagandist wince.—
Will Collins,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Not to blow smoke, but Jude has been one of those examples.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To wit and in other pattern news, a pink, purple, yellow, and teal graphic combo on a suit and wrap dress manifested itself on the closing look, a strapless pink velvet dress whose multi-color beading recalled the graphics.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
This new prototype expanded graphics to 384x256, allowed the use of more RAM, and ran at 8 MHz, making the prototype noticeably faster than the 5 MHz Lisa yet substantially cheaper.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those patisserie-style frocks are exhibited alongside other modern-day interpretations of the queen’s impeccable wardrobe, from Milena Canonero’s Oscar-winning costumes for Coppola’s film to Galliano and Lagerfeld’s designs for Dior and Chanel, respectively.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
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At a time when Americans seem split on nearly everything — from vaccine mandates to interpretations of free speech — one of the last places where people from different walks of life still sit side by side may be your local Applebee's.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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What To Know China's Chang Guang Satellite Technology shared images taken by its Jilin-1 satellites on September 8, showing a Maxar Technologies WorldView Legion 2 satellite.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
He was arrested following a 33-hour manhunt after his parents recognized surveillance images of the suspect released by police and convinced him, with the help of a family friend, to turn himself in.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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ABC's move is latest high-profile example of media figures facing repercussions for comments about Kirk's killing.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
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Facts and figures The Red Sox are 82-69.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illustrations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrations. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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