Synonyms for illustrate
ˈɪl əˌstreɪt, ɪˈlʌs treɪtil·lus·trate

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.5 / 2 votes

1. illustrate

   To embellish is to brighten and enliven by adding something that is not necessarily or very closely connected with that to which it is added; to illustrate is to add something so far like in kind as to cast a side-light upon the principal matter. An author embellishes his narrative with fine descriptions, the artist illustrates it with beautiful engravings, the binder gilds and decorates the volume. Garnish is on a lower plane; as, the feast was garnished with flowers. Deck and bedeck are commonly said of apparel; as, a mother bedecks her daughter with silk and jewels. To adorn and to ornament alike signify to add that which makes anything beautiful and attractive, but ornament is more exclusively on the material plane; as, the gateway was ornamented with delicate carving. Adorn is more lofty and spiritual, referring to a beauty which is not material, and can not be put on by ornaments or decorations, but seems in perfect harmony and unity with that to which it adds a grace; if we say, the gateway was adorned with beautiful carving, we imply a unity and loftiness of design such as ornamented can not express. We say of some admirable scholar or statesman, "he touched nothing that he did not adorn."

   At church, with meek and unaffected grace,
   His looks adorned the venerable place.
   

   Goldsmith Deserted Village, l. 178.

   Synonyms:
   adorn, beautify, bedeck, deck, decorate, embellish, garnish, gild, ornament

   Antonyms:
   deface, deform, disfigure, mar, spoil

   Preposition:
   Adorn his temples with a coronet.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. illustrate

   Synonyms:
   elucidate, interpret, exemplify, demonstrate, represent, explain, embody, paint, image, make clear

   Antonyms:
   obscure, misinterpret, mystify, confuse, misrepresent, darken

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. exemplify, illustrate, instanceverb

   clarify by giving an example of

   Synonyms:
   represent, instance, exemplify

2. illustrateverb

   depict with an illustration

   Synonyms:
   exemplify, instance

3. illustrateverb

   supply with illustrations

   "illustrate a book with drawings"

   Synonyms:
   exemplify, instance

Matched Categories

1. • Art
   • Decorate
   • Elaborate
   • Picture

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. illustrateverb

   Synonyms:
   elucidate, explain, exemplify, make clear, make plain, throw light upon

2. illustrateverb

   Synonyms:
   adorn with pictures

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. illustrateverb

   Synonyms:
   elucidate, picture, demonstrate, exemplify

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:5.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "illustrate":

   exemplify, show, demonstrate, depict, portray, reflect, indicate, highlight

How to pronounce illustrate?

How to say illustrate in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use illustrate in a sentence?

1. Confucius:

   What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.

2. Andrew Brown:

   When weighing the degree of force used, a prosecutor must pay careful attention to the facts and circumstances of each particular case including the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight, i find the facts of this case clearly illustrate the officers who used deadly force on Andrew Brown Jr. did so reasonably and only when a violent felon used a deadly weapon to place their lives in danger.

3. Christopher Ransom:

   We happened to have a big box of colored pencils, and he was having his seizures so frequently that we decided to ask him if he could illustrate what exactly he was seeing, and this was really intriguing to us, the drawing he produced.

4. Olivier Jakob:

   If it is not clear if the strike will last long and will have any meaningful impact on exports or domestic production (including refineries), it does illustrate further the amount of pain that (Gulf) oil producers are also facing at current price levels.

5. Achim Steiner:

   The results of the survey clearly illustrate that urgent climate action has broad support amongst people around the globe, across nationalities, age, gender and education level, from climate-friendly farming to protecting nature, and investing in a green recovery from Covid-19, the survey brings the voice of the people to the forefront of the climate debate. It signals ways in which countries can move forward with public support as we work together to tackle this enormous challenge.