1
as in illustrates
to make plain or understandable
a pamphlet that explains the medical procedure in language that any layperson can understand
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justifies
to give the reason for or cause of
can you explain your very odd behavior at the wedding reception?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explains
These soils lie beyond a depth of three meters, or about 10 feet, explains Yi Xi, the study’s first author and a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences in France.
—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
Brandon Nimmo and Lugo were teammates with the Mets for years, by the way, which explains the immediate concern.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
That narrative explains why UAPs are often perceived as hostile to humans.
—Krysta Fauria, Fortune, 12 June 2026
The scale behind that deployment explains the caution.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
In his confessional, Josh explains how growing up in the United Kingdom, conversations about money were different from those in the United States.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
That 10-goal swing explains most of the standings drop.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
The mental health angle also explains some of the demographic patterns in the data.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Read this edition of AI Prognosis, which explains why scientific literature needs more negative and non-significant results.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 29 May 2026
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
Brandon Nimmo and Lugo were teammates with the Mets for years, by the way, which explains the immediate concern.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
That narrative explains why UAPs are often perceived as hostile to humans.
—Krysta Fauria, Fortune, 12 June 2026
The scale behind that deployment explains the caution.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
In his confessional, Josh explains how growing up in the United Kingdom, conversations about money were different from those in the United States.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
That 10-goal swing explains most of the standings drop.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
The mental health angle also explains some of the demographic patterns in the data.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Read this edition of AI Prognosis, which explains why scientific literature needs more negative and non-significant results.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explains
Verb
-
The Liability Has Moved To You Holland & Knight’s review of the decision on downstream risk illustrates how the use of these tools could become tangible.—
TerDawn DeBoe,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
On the civil side, even one of the greatest examples of professional airmanship in history, US Airways Flight 1549, illustrates the limits of human cognitive bandwidth under extreme pressure.—
Tim Burns,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Lestat justifies his, uh, connection with Gabriella by arguing that vampires transcend petty human concepts like conventional morality.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 June 2026
-
Each new layer of ambition justifies a higher valuation, but the economics have not yet caught up with the narrative.—
Rory McDonald,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The legislation clarifies the definition of data centers and allows the state Department of Environmental Quality to set the standards for data centers’ water usage, NC Newsline reported.—
Mary Ramsey
Updated June 8,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
-
Strongly supported by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, the act also clarifies that organ donation qualifies under the Family and Medical Leave Act, giving donors protected employment status during recovery.—
Gabriel Schnickel,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
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But since neo-Brandeisian thought rejects economics as a pseudo-science that rationalizes the desires of capital owners, that objection carries little weight.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2026
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But as another voter rationalizes, the sheer size of the ballot will do more harm than good in the long run.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This inequality demonstrates a particular kind of economic and political harm that targets racially diverse and politically progressive young people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
The format Liu helped build demonstrates how pharmaceutical brands can advance health equity not through advertising alone, but through cultural partnerships and community presence.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Allesin simplifies this with a no-drill approach, making setup straightforward and wall-friendly.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
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That mindset simplifies his decision-making, sharpens perception and allows his performance to become more instinctive.—
Elise Devlin,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Venus shines to the right in the image, surrounded by a diffuse haze as the sunlight reflected off its surface illuminates a wisp of cloud during its passage through Earth's atmosphere.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
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Discreetly in a back corner is the reception desk, and a large chandelier illuminates the fresh flower arrangements below.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explains. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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