Thesaurus results for ILLUSTRATION

Q: How is the word 'illustration' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of illustration are case , example , instance , sample , and specimen . While all these words mean "something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category," illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement. // a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

Q: Where would 'case' be a reasonable alternative to 'illustration'?

The meanings of case and illustration largely overlap; however, case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with. // a case of mistaken identity

Q: When could 'example' be used to replace 'illustration'?

In some situations, the words example and illustration are roughly equivalent. However, example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case. // a typical example of bureaucratic waste

Q: When would 'instance' be a good substitute for 'illustration'?

While the synonyms instance and illustration are close in meaning, instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain. // an instance of history repeating itself

Q: In what contexts can 'sample' take the place of 'illustration'?

The words sample and illustration can be used in similar contexts, but sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities. // show us a sample of your work

Q: When might 'specimen' be a better fit than 'illustration'?

While in some cases nearly identical to illustration , specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available. // one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

illustration

noun

ˌi-lə-ˈstrā-shən

Definition of illustration

as in diagram

something that visually explains or decorates a text this book on birds has gorgeous illustrations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in explanation

a statement that makes something clear forced to give several illustrations until she was understood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word illustration distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of illustration are case, example, instance, sample, and specimen. While all these words mean "something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category," illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

Where would case be a reasonable alternative to illustration?

The meanings of case and illustration largely overlap; however, case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

a case of mistaken identity

When could example be used to replace illustration?

In some situations, the words example and illustration are roughly equivalent. However, example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

When would instance be a good substitute for illustration?

While the synonyms instance and illustration are close in meaning, instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

In what contexts can sample take the place of illustration?

The words sample and illustration can be used in similar contexts, but sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

show us a sample of your work

When might specimen be a better fit than illustration?

While in some cases nearly identical to illustration, specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

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 illustration Written by Colin Meloy, best known as the frontman of the band The Decemberists, the book featured illustrations from his wife and children’s book illustrator, Carson Ellis. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026 Each volume is accompanied by black-and-white illustrations, poetry and new cover artwork. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026 Kalshi logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 3, 2026. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026 The story of his developing that pitch is perhaps the greatest illustration of Stock’s will to pitch. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for illustration

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustration

Noun

But then the control experiment was give the questions without showing the diagrams.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
In fact, the way the enneagram diagram is set up includes some interconnectedness.

— Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of diagram

Noun

On one wall, the ambassador installed Marc Lipp’s Fight Fight Fight, a depiction of Trump with a bloody ear and raised fist painted by one of the president’s favorite Palm Beach watercolorists.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
In her depiction of the exhausting vigilance this reality required, through a second-person voice cannily implicating her reader, Rankine created a new language to identify a problem as old as the United States.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of depiction

Noun

Longtime Rivals Nvidia ascended to the top of the semiconductor industry after developers realized that its graphics processing units — technology popularized by computer gamers — were well-suited for training AI models.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
CoreWeave should make more gains, even as rising graphics processing units costs increase its capital expenditures, according to Truist Securities.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of graphic

Noun

His other roles included advising basketball operations on NBA rules, CBA interpretation, league memoranda, draft matters, player health, immigration, roster construction, transaction execution and roster compliance.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026
Located in Kvareli, in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia, the foundation is devoted to the preservation and exhibition of Georgian contemporary art, as well as to its study and interpretation.

— News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of interpretation

Browse Nearby Words

illustrating

illustration

illustrational

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Style

“Illustration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustration. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of illustration

noun

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