illustrations

noun

plural of illustration
1
as in diagrams
something that visually explains or decorates a text this book on birds has gorgeous illustrations

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2
as in explanations
a statement that makes something clear forced to give several illustrations until she was understood

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3
as in pictures
a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing the doctor sketched an illustration to explain the procedure to the patient

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4
as in examples
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

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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 illustrations IllustratorMagic then generates the story, illustrations, and page layout together while keeping characters consistent from page to page. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026 In other words, the idea of turning roads into giant wireless chargers has been kicking around for years, and some projects are now producing encouraging results rather than just concept illustrations. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026 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 The story is elevated by its weird and lovely illustrations of spiders on strike, forest creatures both natural and supernatural, and a bog that is always, always watching. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 Gracing walls are iconic photographs of Christian Dior and illustrations by René Grau. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 But the Iran example – and particularly the ongoing episodic closures of the Strait of Hormuz – is one of the best illustrations today of how merely invoking credibility to act is not the same as having an overall endgame strategy. — Christopher Nichols, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 With illustrations by Axel Scheffler, the book was a runaway bestseller. — David Morgan, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 The deluxe book features a foreword from Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, a history of the 101’ers by band member Richard Nother Dudanski, plus Strummer’s own writings and illustrations. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrations
  1. diagrams
  2. explanations
  3. pictures
  4. examples
  5. graphics
  6. interpretations
  7. depictions
  8. figures
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 diagrams
Noun
  • These symptoms can have harmless explanations, and Midnight Mimosa may operate without obvious warning signs.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The students presented their research at a free public forum Wednesday night, where community members could hear their explanations and ask questions.
    — James Taylor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of explanations
Noun
  • Gacy painted over a thousand pictures, many of clowns, while on death row in the 1980s and 1990s.
    — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • To my eye, the differences between the 17 Pro and Duo in good lighting were minimal, but the Duo did capture marginally better detail in low light (see the cat pictures).
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of pictures
Noun
  • The world’s highest-profile tech billionaires offer the most conspicuous examples.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The original plan for 25 street-legal M6 GTs was eventually altered to 50 examples due to FIA requirements, but production never came to fruition, derailed by the 32-year-old McLaren’s death during testing at Goodwood in 1970.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of examples
Noun
  • The display uses a dark interface with red and white graphics, drawing inspiration from fighter jet cockpit screens.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Next, save 30% on the Asus ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop, delivering a 16-core AMD Ryzen 9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 5060 graphics.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of graphics
Noun
  • Rather than rehashing traditional compositions, the group recognizes these sorely untapped sounds as living and malleable, creating new interpretations that bring them to our times without losing an ounce of their essence and verve.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The humble garment has made its way onto the runway, with designers at Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Paul Smith offering their own interpretations.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of interpretations
Noun
  • So the ability for people to make visual depictions and reach towards cinematic success became more palpable or more accessible.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The term has since become a shorthand for antisemitic depictions of greed and has been condemned for elevating offensive stereotypes about Jewish people.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of depictions
Noun
  • The cost figures draw on the Family Budget Calculator developed by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute from federal data on rents, food costs and consumer spending, with The Post’s own health care estimates.
    — Amy L. Wong, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Another star turn goes to Mary Ellen Pleasant, who was arguably America’s first Black millionaire and inarguably one of the most canny and chameleonlike figures this country has ever produced.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of figures

Browse Nearby Words

illustrational
illustrations
illustrative
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Illustrations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrations. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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