as in oh
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable
why, what a strange thing to say! why, that's not possible!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing
asked the whys behind the surprising decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
how one decides that a certain person is "the one" is one of the great whys of life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of why
Filip Bondy, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2017
Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2022
Cain opines on the why-and-how of private mega-yachts, which have grown mind-bogglingly massive (such as the 533-foot-long Eclipse, replete with submarine, owned by Russian business mogul Roman Abramovich).
—Laura Manske, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for why
Interjection
Why, oh why, do the Rangers keep throwing away almost certain victories in the final minutes of playoff games?
—Filip Bondy, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2017
Noun
The show never aims its considerable wit and girl power vibe to get a firm grip on the troubling tributaries that flow just underneath the why-ness of the show: These women, nobility be damned, are one and all inextricably tied to a fundamentally-flawed man.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2022
Cain opines on the why-and-how of private mega-yachts, which have grown mind-bogglingly massive (such as the 533-foot-long Eclipse, replete with submarine, owned by Russian business mogul Roman Abramovich).
—Laura Manske, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for why
Recent Examples of Synonyms for why
Interjection
-
And, oh by the way, Mahomes attended the Miami Grand Prix race.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2025
-
Which is good for business and, oh by the way, probably unnecessary.—
Will Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
During these inspections, travelers may be questioned or their electronic devices looked through as a way to confirm their identity and reasons for being in the U.S.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
Recently, Rantanen has had plenty of reasons to smile.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Streep and Short’s characters got married in the fourth season of the murder mystery show and, in a too-sweet parallel, the two actors are rumored to be dating for real as well.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
-
But the distribution of gold, which is heavier than iron, throughout the universe has posed a mystery to astrophysicists.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
One student remains hospitalized almost five months after the shooting, police said Police determined the teen shooter had an obsession with mass violence, school shootings, and weapons, though a clear motive might never be revealed.—
Jared Ochacher,
CBS News,
8 May 2025
-
Authorities said this week that a motive in the shooting is unclear, according to the outlets.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
8 May 2025
Interjection
-
And hey, maybe Versant will buy all those unwanted cable channels anyway.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
-
But hey, her Texas accent was pretty good, at least to my northerner ear.—
Lizzie Logan,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
Interjection
-
Add injuries to the equation, including back and hamstring strains, and, well, things can go sideways.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
-
For a weekend away from the city, Comfort offers, well, comfort, in the form of a slower pace.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2025
Interjection
-
Google Users Express Anger Over Data Loss Well, gee, thanks Google.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
-
And gee if there were only a very effective way of preventing the measles.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Why.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/why. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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