Thesaurus results for ILLUSTRATIVE

illustrative

adjective

i-ˈlə-strə-tiv

Definition of illustrative

as in interpretive

serving to explain an illustrative analogy in which the relationship between God and humanity is likened to that between a shepherd and his flock

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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 illustrative These examples are illustrative of the fact that athletes already take their fertility and menstrual cycles into consideration, Carson says. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026 The stunning indictment of Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota last week marked another illustrative example of the position’s outsized power, according to one top lawmaker. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026 Marcus Rashford’s acquisition in January 2025 served as an illustrative example. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Those layers, which expand in Heartstopper Forever, are illustrative of Oseman’s approach that appreciates both the evolution inherent to queerness and the coming of age. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for illustrative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illustrative

Adjective

Another project would involve replacing 17 wayside exhibits at backcountry trailheads and three in the Cottonwood Spring area and adding three new interpretive wayside exhibits on the Mastodon Peak Loop.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
This can be true, but only when the interpretive capability around those signals is developing alongside them.

— Dhiraj Adya, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of interpretive

Adjective

Another way this plays out in the book is in my analysis of how re-translators often echo or follow one another, rather than looking afresh at the interpretative possibilities of the originals.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
The effects of such abstemiousness are less clear, though a pair of new movies point in two very different interpretative directions.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of interpretative

Adjective

As the series continues, however, Kazan plays up the explanatory power of an incident from Cathy’s childhood.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
For a writer so given to cultural reference, intellectual genealogy, and various explanatory apparatuses, this failure of language is unexpectedly liberating to read.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of explanatory

Browse Nearby Words

illustrations

illustrative

illustrious

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“Illustrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illustrative. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of illustrative

adjective

Example Sentences

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