EXPLAINING Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

explaining

verb

present participle of explain

as in clarifying

to make plain or understandable a pamphlet that explains the medical procedure in language that any layperson can understand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in justifying

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 explaining Their background needs explaining, and there is less internal precedent for what success looks like. — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Creighton jokes, explaining that making the film accessible to people is far more interesting to her than some sort of contrived celebrity impact campaign. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026 In fact, a Kalshi spokesperson likened the way Blanket works to the insurance sector, explaining that Blanket recommendations are tailored to insurance use cases. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 At its investor day in June, Honeywell Aerospace spent time explaining their strategy to transform their supply chain, including better planning, factory throughput and the embrace of AI tools. — Zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, the city will work on outreach to get vacant properties registered while putting together a guide explaining what the standards are for owners. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026 The actor has previously shared that his pivot toward lighter, more mainstream projects was intentional, explaining that his priorities changed after becoming a parent. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 The courses cover writing, explaining, and debugging advanced formulas, as well as VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP for pulling exact data from massive spreadsheets without endless scrolling. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 31 July 2026 Batalon first set the record straight about the back-to-back engagements during a March 2025 interview with Metro Entertainment, explaining that his proposal plans were solidified before Holland’s. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explaining

Verb

Check the route, reread the message, or ask the clarifying question.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026
There is a common assumption that AI closes the gap by summarizing meetings, clarifying requirements and translating jargon.

— Nik Froehlich, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of clarifying

Verb

Steve Nesius | Reuters For analysts at Bernstein, Starship is the most important issue for SpaceX in justifying its valuation.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Organizations that approach agentic AI this way build foundational capabilities that span dozens of workflows and shift the ROI conversation from justifying each agent individually to achieving compounding returns across the enterprise.

— Joe Locandro, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of justifying

Verb

Vulture podcast critic Nicholas Quah rounds up the year’s best and most interesting podcasts, with an eye toward illustrating broader shifts in the new-media landscape.

— Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
The Spanos prioritize employee legacy and community over a sale, illustrating why such valuable independent firms are often the hardest to acquire.

— Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of illustrating

Verb

But repeatedly rationalizing troubling information and warning signs is different.

— Kathy Caprino, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
But the notion of ends rationalizing the means is problematic on many levels, most of all because without boundaries and structure there is chaos, and few have the same means and leverage at their disposal.

— Vahe Gregorian July 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026

Definition of rationalizing

Verb

Its technical documentation is being shared with other African countries, demonstrating how battery storage can stabilize fragile grids against future climate impacts.

— Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Over 100 landowners have denied power company surveyors access to their property, again demonstrating Maryland’s tenacity against harmful development which, frankly, no one asked for.

— Adrianne Fantasia, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of demonstrating

Verb

Lucy Tobier Braun suggested potential legal challenges to his ability to extend the gas tax pause by attributing it to a new cause would be politically motivated.

— Lucy Tobier, IndyStar, 6 Aug. 2026
The company, founded in 2020, cut staff earlier this year, attributing the reductions to its increasing allocation of resources toward prediction markets.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of attributing

Verb

Unlike conventional approaches that integrate springs into robotic legs, the new design shifts energy storage to the foot itself, simplifying the mechanical architecture while still improving efficiency.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
His main priorities highlighted in his platform include reigning in national spending, simplifying the tax code, defending the military and Second Amendment, promoting nuclear energy, and securing the border.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of simplifying

Verb

Zuraitis sounds confident and poised belting R&B, crooning standards, or interpreting pop tunes.

— Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
Instead, focus on consistently scanning the environment, interpreting signals through the lens of your organization’s unique strengths and responding with thoughtful action.

— Dr. William Morice, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026