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 Design was an important factor in planning the weekend, with blooming florals from Stoneblossom, custom illustrations by Champagne and Ink, and transformative décor crafted by Ryan Designs. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026 Gracing walls are iconic photographs of Christian Dior and illustrations by René Grau. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 The illustration by Clare Briggs was publish in the Tribune the next day. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 Her work combines music, illustration, animation and fashion. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for illustration

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustration

Noun

The reconstruction was made trickier, however, by the fact that the crew weren’t allowed to take photographs inside Downing Street and there aren’t diagrams online.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Capturing it requires going beyond policies and process diagrams and working alongside the people who actually perform the work.

— Balaji Sreenivasan, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of diagram

Noun

But conventional explanations emphasizing liberalism’s association with economic development and the rise of a middle class cannot fully account for ideological shifts.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
But the younger Trejo’s account at least offers an explanation for why his father took the job with Shapiro’s Daily Wire.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of explanation

Noun

Chen initially resisted the rainbow-like chromatic aberration familiar from other screen depictions of superpowers.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
The painting will be displayed alongside an ancient relief borrowed from the National Roman Museum, reportedly introduced to Rembrandt through a reproduction, that inspired his depiction of Bathsheba attended to by a footmaid.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of depiction

Noun

Both examples demonstrate how local champions and an existing source of funding can help turn a lifesaving idea into reality.

— Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
As usual, most of the homes are located in North America, but our roundup also includes examples from Europe and Australia.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of example

Noun

Graphics and Gaming Tests We challenge all desktops' graphics with a quintet of animations or gaming simulations from UL's 3DMark test suite.

— Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2026
The black, orange and yellow design references Owen’s love for superheroes and dirt bikes which are emphasized through splattered paint accents and comic book-like lenticular graphics.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of graphic

Noun

The Many Worlds interpretation is gaining momentum as a candidate to solve the quantum measurement problem.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Attorneys for the plaintiffs in both cases argue that Congress could ban a broad array of activities inside private homes — including cooking, gardening and remote work — under the government’s interpretation of the 19th century law.

— Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of interpretation

Browse Nearby Words

illustrating

illustration

illustrational

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Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of illustration

noun

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