EX PLAINS Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

explains

verb

present tense third-person singular of explain

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of explains Here, The Athletic explains who York is, his background and his relationship to Leeds. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The album, Cole explains, became as much about the support surrounding heartbreak as heartbreak itself. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 That somewhat explains why Miami’s backups have looked disappointing in the two joint practices and preseason games. — Omar Kelly august 24, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026 For children who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons or pregnant teachers and family members, a lack of herd immunity can be life-threatening, Handy explains. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026 Rao explains that the cast’s intense chemistry was manufactured deliberately by Kronengold and Shaw, who paid for the actors to spend three weeks in Toronto before season-one shooting began. — Emily Gould, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026 Larger stumps will require the use of excavators or other heavy equipment, Team explains, which can quickly send the costs into the thousands. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026 The Family Support page in the main Splashtop app explains the process. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2026 Odds of getting shares were worse than one in five thousand, which explains pretty loudly why the stock popped so much on launch. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explains

Verb

The episode illustrates a less visible part of keeping older military aircraft flying.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
That, Manuel says, illustrates the class divide that has been so ingrained in the Philippines.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of illustrates

Verb

As Rankine clarifies in Triage, the pain of this moment is not exclusive to Black Americans.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
The first clarifies that its PLX product does not provide law enforcement agencies with geolocation data, and the second says that the company has reached out to the complaint's authors to ask that the complaint against Penlink be withdrawn.

— Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of clarifies

Verb

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
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

Definition of rationalizes

Verb

IonQ’s partnership with Sandia National Laboratories also demonstrates its increasing national-security relevance.

— Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
The research also demonstrates the JWST is more than capable of studying the dispersal of gas and dust around individual infant stars.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of demonstrates

Verb

That level of integration not only simplifies the workflow for beginners but also creates a more efficient and consistent experience for professionals who regularly produce parts.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
For an unguided experience, his company’s Rental and Ride package simplifies the logistics of a point-to-point river trip by coordinating the drop-off and downriver pickup.

— Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of simplifies

Verb

Koopala’s rechargeable, stick-on task light illuminates tricky spots around the home that could use extra light without the hassle of cords or hardwiring.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2026
The remainder of the moon will take on a reddish-brown hue because sunlight bends around Earth and illuminates the lunar surface indirectly.

— Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 27 Aug. 2026