Some common alternatives for “shows” are “demonstrates,” “illustrates,” and “indicates” in more formal or academic contexts.
Single word options
- Demonstrates
- Illustrates
- Indicates
- Reveals
- Displays
- Presents
- Exhibits
When talking about data
For phrases like “the graph shows…”, good substitutes include “the graph illustrates…”, “the graph indicates…”, or “the graph reveals…”. These options sound more precise and are often preferred in essays and reports.