ILLUSTRATING Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

illustrating

verb

present participle of illustrate

as in demonstrating

to show or make clear by using examples she illustrated her point with a story about her experiences as a field anthropologist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in illuminating

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 explaining

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

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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 illustrating There’s nothing like a crisis for illustrating who’s put in the work to develop strong muscle memory and habits of mind. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 In 2025, France TV Distribution organized a major promotional tour in Tokyo for the team, including press conferences and fan meetings, illustrating the exceptional enthusiasm ‘Bright Minds’ generates in Japan. — Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 But its rebound Thursday helped offset weakness in the AI trade, illustrating how different parts of the market can perform well at different times. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 Chinese media also reported that participating forces were stationed underground during the exercise to protect them from drone attacks, illustrating how persistent aerial surveillance and strike drones are changing battlefield operations. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026 Crowley won the primary by a half percentage point — roughly 3,800 votes — illustrating Democrats’ soul-searching in the Upper Midwestern swing state. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 By May 2026, the company was making almost $28 in revenue per short-distance passenger, compared with $73 per long-distance passenger, illustrating the tension between the two services. — Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 Yet many clinicians remain frustrated by administrative burden and workflow complexity, illustrating the fact that digitization and transformation are not one in the same. — Bill Oldham, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Schlager has contributed 18 of those recoveries, with his midfield partner James McAtee having made 19, illustrating their nascent partnership. — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrating

Verb

There's also the gap between demonstrating a prototype and delivering a finished vehicle.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Its progress will depend on integrating the communications hardware and demonstrating the system’s performance through testing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of demonstrating

Verb

Fayet later moved into illustration, illuminating works of poetry and even a book for his grandchildren.

— Julie Coe, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026
All four movies exhibit Mackenzie’s knack for trenchant social and political commentary slightly heightened by his elegance as a dramatist and visceral genre filmmaker, and all are accompanied by illuminating supplements.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of illuminating

Verb

The decision was posted on the White House website late in the evening, and the notification noted that the report explaining the decision had been submitted to Congress.

— Will Weissert, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Kate is once again explaining to Hal something very obvious about his own psyche and routine behavior.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of explaining

Verb

Before meeting with a patient advocate, identify your main objectives – for example, preparing for a transition home, clarifying a treatment plan or understanding medication changes.

— Jennifer Schlinger, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
In November 2025, South Korea proposed talks on clarifying the borderline, but North Korea didn’t respond.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of clarifying

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“Illustrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrating. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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