Many thanks for this illustrative collection of examples.
Source: tatoeba (3452386)
Illustrative
/ɪˈlʌs.tɹə.tɪv/
Synonyms for "illustrative" (298 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (60)
Adjective(28 words)
demonstrativeanalog modelanatomical diagramanecdotal databiased processingblank datacommon instancecultural exemplardescriptivedescriptive adjectivedescriptive analysisdescriptive categorydescriptive category labeldescriptive datadescriptive detaildescriptive detailsdescriptive featuresdescriptive findingdescriptive grammardescriptive label
Show 8 more words
descriptive measuredescriptive modifierdescriptive noun phrasedescriptive paragraphdescriptive propertydescriptive qualitydescriptive ratingdescriptive statistics
Noun(21 words)
adducentanatomical modelanimal cell modelbook illustrationcarrying capacity conceptcase in pointcharacterizing individualschemical demonstrationsclassroom caseclassroom organismcontaining examplesdata transformation examplesdemo circuitdemo lessondemonstratingdemonstration modeldemonstration roddescriptive englishdescriptive essaydescriptive language
Show 1 more word
descriptive phrase
Verb(2 words)
Strong matches (89)
Adjective(32 words)
descriptive studydescriptive taskdescriptive term labeldescriptive term usagedescriptive termsdescriptive word formdescriptive word usagedescriptive wordsdescriptive words examplesdescriptive writing sampledetected energy spectrumdiagrammaticdrawableexample-basedexemplifyingexplanatoryexplanatory diagramexplanatory frameworkextra detailfeatural
Show 12 more words
fictitiousfigurative conceptfigurative descriptionfigurative meaninggraphicgraphic designsgraphic illustrationgraphic operationgraphic techniquegraphic tshirt designhypothetical conclusionhypothetical scenario
Noun(35 words)
descriptive termdescriptive term categorydescriptive term exampledescriptive term phrasedescriptive textdescriptive text without numbersdescriptive worddescriptive word categorydescriptive word choicedescriptive word listdescriptive word studydescriptive word usage guidelinesdescriptive writingdrawingdrawing elementdrawing promptdutch hypothetischeducational demonstrationenergy pathway diagramenvironmental collapse
Show 15 more words
epitomizingevidencing results chartexample materialsexample sentenceexample solutionexemplar sentenceexpressive qualityfiction bookfictional workfrench descriptiffrench patronfrench visuelgraphic artgraphic representationgraphic tee design
Verb(2 words)
Related words (149)
illuminativeillustrationalimitativeincarnatinglimningmimeticmimishonomatopoeicpersonifyingpictographicpictorialportrayingrationalisticrationalizingrepresentationalrepresentativerepresentingsamplescholiasticsimulative
Show 3 more words
Verb(5 words)
Noun(77 words)
illustrated editionillustratinginstructional exampleinterpretive panellab demonstrationleading historical pieceslearning examplelife process model activitylooking glassmake visiblemath examplemind mappingmodel cyclemodel essaymodel organism education lessonmodel population dynamicsmodel problemmodel textmodel think-aloudmodelable example
Show 57 more words
more descriptivemore representativemore specimenlikemost descriptivenatural phenomenon datanoninstructional contentnorwegian skubbeorganic chemistry demonstrationparallelogram rule diagramparticularizingphysics problem examplepictpictorialspicturingplaceholderpointing wordpotential energy diagrampottery remnantproformasample analysissample assignmentsample essaysample exercisesample for analysissample labelsample paragraphsample productsample vialschematic diagramscience notebook drawingsensor driven componentshowcasingsolution sampleswedish visuellteaching exampleteaching model demonstrationteaching specimentest codetoy modeltoy model analysistoy network modeltoy-model frameworktrial balloontypical physics problemtypifying characteristictypifying illustrationvisual aidvisual aidsvisual depictionvisual expressionvisual metaphorvisual metaphor devicevisual modelvisual-art lessonvoided checkswriting sampleszoology textbooks
Adjective(42 words)
illustrated ideaimagisticinstructiveliterary illustrationmath problem examplemodel charactermodel-relatedostensivephotographicpictorialpictorial artpictorial formpicturalpositive examplerepresentational modelrepresentative authorityrepresentative caserepresentative examplerepresentative governmentrepresentative organism
Show 22 more words
sample descriptorsample rubricsample sentenceserial dilutionssingle snapshot modelspecimenaryspecimenary studyspecimenliketextbook valuetextbookliketextual illustrationtoy model frameworktypical weekly patternsunconnected network topologyvertebrate skeletonvisualvisual conceptvisual explanationvisual presentationvisual teaching toolworked exampleworked examples
Adverb(1 words)
more descriptive passages
Determiner(1 words)
most lab reagent
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: demonstrative, adducent, adumbrating, allegorizing, analog model.
- Sentence evidence is available for illustrative, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "illustrative".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "illustrative"
Keep "illustrative" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "illustrative" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "illustrative", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "illustrative" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
3 entriesCollocations
6 entriesillustrative chartillustrative dataillustrative diagramillustrative exampleillustrative figureillustrative language
Inflections
2 entriesmore illustrativemost illustrative
Derivations
4 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
This Anglo-Teutonic, castellated, gothized structure must be considered as an abortive production, at once illustrative of bad taste and defective judgment.
Source: tatoeba (11250841)
If grammar describes the structure of a language, it goes without saying that no such description can be offered without constant reference to word material illustrative of various structural features.
Source: tatoeba (12380575)
The photos are for illustrative purposes only. The actual delivered product may differ.
Source: tatoeba (12490042)
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "illustrative"?
Closest matches include demonstrative, adducent, adumbrating, allegorizing, analog model.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "illustrative"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.