illustrates

verb

present tense third-person singular of illustrate
1
as in demonstrates
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
2
as in illuminates
to supplement with pictorial matter for the purpose of explanation or decoration lavishly illustrated the monograph on Caravaggio with color plates

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in explains
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 illustrates That kind of attachment illustrates something about modern business. — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Its flight heritage illustrates the importance of dependable computing hardware in missions where repairs are difficult or impossible. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026 The incident illustrates the failures of trust and safety provisions that are supposed to protect against this kind of confusion. — Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 This map illustrates where drought conditions may, or may not, change during the upcoming winter. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Recent reporting illustrates how these pressures can compound. — Shannon Hynds, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 The targeting of civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, particularly airports, illustrates the retaliatory logic the Houthis have invoked to justify their actions. — Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 The acquisition of Hello Sunshine by Mediawan also illustrates how much the business has changed since the streaming boom that fueled Hello Sunshine’s previous valuation. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 For me, this print illustrates how choosing a different resin expands the machine’s possibilities beyond rigid models and workshop fixtures. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrates
  1. demonstrates
  2. illuminates
  3. explains
  4. exemplifies
  5. clarifies
Verb
  • Fu believes that example demonstrates the potential importance of direct diplomatic intervention, although the circumstances of Jin's release do not establish that such pressure would produce the same result in Wang's case.
    — Mitch Picasso, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • As the movie demonstrates, Macdonald’s credentials as a comic’s comic were unassailable.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of demonstrates
Verb
  • With her clear sense of purpose and self-belief, Chase illuminates our own generative and creative capacities, inspiring and delighting in equal measure.
    — Ruth Negga, Time, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The Aries Full Moon illuminates your private 12th house, bringing an old emotion, habit, memory, or attachment closer to the surface.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of illuminates
Verb
  • Below, Bourne explains how and why Black in the British Frame fell out of print.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Which perhaps explains why people keep trying to run it back.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of explains
Verb
  • The film recognizes a film that exemplifies the values of peace, equality, global justice and civil liberties.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond all that old-fashioned charm is a place that exemplifies the best of countryside-chic, too.
    — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of exemplifies
Verb
  • But the list clarifies that restrictions don’t apply to licensing, partnerships, and contract research services involving these technologies.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The team's research clarifies how the environments around infant stars directly affect planetary fates and, in turn, the survival of extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, that are potentially capable of hosting life.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of clarifies

Browse Nearby Words

illustrated
illustrates
illustrating
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Illustrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrates. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All