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
Relevance
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
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
The skeeter strategy Zheng explains that the challenge with the approach was how to vaccinate the bats.
—
Ari Daniel, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
Perhaps that’s why the filmmaker never explains the reason his parents left.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Restaurant critic and food reporter Henri Hollis explains the change.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026
This one explains why taking turns is a must for daily play.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 13 Mar. 2026
Bills Towing and Recovery also shared a post on Facebook that explains the whole operation, with a step-by-step breakdown.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 13 Mar. 2026
Seidel explains that the emotional strain surrounding relocation is something his team witnesses regularly through their work with clients.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
At every Busk since, explains Kenny, one of his songs has been played in tribute.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2026
Material weight matters, too, Hollis explains.
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2026
Ari Daniel, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
Perhaps that’s why the filmmaker never explains the reason his parents left.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Restaurant critic and food reporter Henri Hollis explains the change.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026
This one explains why taking turns is a must for daily play.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 13 Mar. 2026
Bills Towing and Recovery also shared a post on Facebook that explains the whole operation, with a step-by-step breakdown.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 13 Mar. 2026
Seidel explains that the emotional strain surrounding relocation is something his team witnesses regularly through their work with clients.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
At every Busk since, explains Kenny, one of his songs has been played in tribute.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2026
Material weight matters, too, Hollis explains.
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explains
Verb
-
Perhaps nothing in the book illustrates the challenges faced by the women of the scrappy National Women’s Football League, which formally ran from 1974 to 1989 (though several teams predated the league) more so than a description of one Ohio billboard.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Across these pairings, the retrospective illustrates how early festival exposure and development support helped propel emerging filmmakers onto the international stage.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This justifies using the average premium SVOD churn rate, even though Paramount+ has traditionally fallen short of it.—
Andrew Root,
Sportico.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The constraint, Dolci says, is not audience demand – the performance of existing screens more than justifies expansion – but the availability of suitable sites.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to the mayor, the executive order clarifies existing policies related to federal immigration enforcement efforts, details proactive steps that are being taken to protect residents, and outlines the authority of the Baltimore Police Department.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The dual-pronged approach clarifies exemptions for destruction and sets a standardized reporting format to reduce administrative burdens on companies while boosting transparency across all member states.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
True crime, as a genre, rationalizes its exploitations—people’s tragedies and traumas, recast for popular consumption—by couching the sensationalism in considerations of justice.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The study demonstrates a new level of miniaturization and scalability for optical beam-combining hardware used in high-power laser systems.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
-
While the magnitude of these surges varies by context, the temporal clustering of activity in both cases demonstrates that social media visibility is driven by discrete political and moral shocks rather than sustained baseline engagement.—
Arnaud Kurze,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Building on the past decade of work by the sustainable farming organization, the next step expands OCA’s impact areas simplifies participation for brands and retailers and increases global supply through new partnerships.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Mar. 2026
-
This method aims to directly enrich these gases, which simplifies the production process and reduces the risk of impurities.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The case illuminates how authorities are enforcing California’s strict ABC independent contractor test, codified at Labor Code section 2775.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
At these times, sunlight illuminates exhaust from the rocket's upper stage, which is composed primarily of water vapor and carbon dioxide.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explains. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
