ILLUSTRATE Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

illustrate

verb

ˈi-lə-ˌstrāt

Definition of illustrate

as in to demonstrate

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

as in to illuminate

to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration lavishly illustrated the monograph on Caravaggio with color plates

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to explain

to make plain or understandable the recent devastating fire illustrates the need for improved safety codes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 illustrate With guests that range from Jennifer Lopez and Ethan Hawke to Rahma’s New Yorker friends who have yet to crack the mainstream, the show illustrates how strong opinions and a willingness to defend them are universal human traits. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026 The crossing of the $30 trillion mark only dates back to January 2022, illustrating the rapid growth in federal borrowing needs. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 Trump senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro authored an op-ed in the New York Times speaking to the necessity of the report’s release and attempting to illustrate the scope of the problem. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026 Bostic said the amount of food moving through the pantry illustrates the demand. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for illustrate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrate

Verb

Shipping traffic remains severely restricted, demonstrating that many shipowners are not willing to risk a possible Iranian attack and underscoring Tehran’s ongoing leverage over Hormuz.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Government agencies should be expected to demonstrate the same commitment to competence, transparency, and adherence to the law.

— Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of demonstrate

Verb

If nothing else, The Steppe and Its Empires is illuminating as a catalog of comparable practices across these empires.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Telescopes have upended astronomy again and again by illuminating what was previously invisible to the naked eye.

— Elijah Tan, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of illuminate

Verb

Lanterns wastes little time explaining this backstory ad nauseam and instead creates an immediately inviting dynamic between him and Hal, who comes to him demanding information on Manhunters.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Cieloween explained that the moves shown by participants vary widely.

— Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of explain

Browse Nearby Words

illusory

illustrate

illustrated

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Illustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrate. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of illustrate

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

devolve

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes