1
as in clarifying
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 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
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Recent Examples of explaining
Jupiter in your 3rd House of Discourse backs you up, so a thoughtful chat with a teammate can rally useful support by explaining who does what.
—
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
This article is part of a series explaining foreign policy terms commonly used but rarely explained.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
Families stand to benefit enormously, Muñoz said, explaining free care will put money back in their pockets.
—Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
The 45-year-old coach layered the broadcast with personal insight, explaining to the viewers how Lue taught her the value of patience.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
There are no talking heads, no reminiscing peers, no historians ‘explaining’ Elvis’ impact.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Trump was planning to end a policy that made schools off-limits for immigration raids, so Rachel was carrying a trifold poster board explaining what to do in an encounter with ICE.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Matt produces unconventional videos explaining New York government programs.
—Matt Wing, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
The couple has kept meticulous rainfall, consumption, water quality and maintenance cost records since 2007, and last summer published a 17-page pamphlet explaining their system.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
This article is part of a series explaining foreign policy terms commonly used but rarely explained.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
Families stand to benefit enormously, Muñoz said, explaining free care will put money back in their pockets.
—Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
The 45-year-old coach layered the broadcast with personal insight, explaining to the viewers how Lue taught her the value of patience.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
There are no talking heads, no reminiscing peers, no historians ‘explaining’ Elvis’ impact.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Trump was planning to end a policy that made schools off-limits for immigration raids, so Rachel was carrying a trifold poster board explaining what to do in an encounter with ICE.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Matt produces unconventional videos explaining New York government programs.
—Matt Wing, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
The couple has kept meticulous rainfall, consumption, water quality and maintenance cost records since 2007, and last summer published a 17-page pamphlet explaining their system.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explaining
Verb
-
The Nobel Prize had cast a clarifying light backward.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The airport released a statement Thursday clarifying its post was intended as a joke.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Experts say this rationale is a new way of justifying bringing users’ content back to life.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Bonds are supposed to be for capital investments — improvements that will last for years, justifying the long-term cost of financing them.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, the near quarter-point decline in mortgage rates this year has yet to inspire buyers, illustrating a housing market still struggling to gather momentum.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
-
That's where the rate has consistently sat in recent weeks, illustrating the stability in the mortgage rate environment currently.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If there were a Mensa society for rationalizing one’s own shitty behavior, Pippa would be its president.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Aeffe is rationalizing its retail network and earlier this month the board approved the early termination of the rental contract signed with two real estate firms, Colloportus and FQuattro, respectively controlled by designer Alberta Ferretti and her brother, executive chairman Massimo Ferretti.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Often, grand jurors are obliged to sit for months at a time, often at great personal expense, demonstrating admirable and selfless fortitude in service of this important public service.—
Barbara Jaffe,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Iran's attack on the Ras Tanura refinery represents a major escalation, a Middle East analyst said, with Iran demonstrating that key Gulf energy infrastructure is within its reach, and investor sentiment was likely to worsen.—
DAVID McHUGH,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 2021, San Diego prosecutors unsealed an indictment attributing an explosion of violence in Tijuana to a criminal cell known as Los Cabos, who allegedly acted as a brutal enforcement arm of the CJNG.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
In mid-February, Publishers Weekly reported that a hundred thousand copies of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel had sold in the first two months of this year, compared with a hundred and eighty thousand total last year, attributing the increase to book clubs and influencers of all stripes embracing it.—
Radhika Jones,
New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This sheet cake version cuts down lots of prep time, by simplifying the assembly.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
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With a rapidly growing global user base, the platform is credited with simplifying access to AI models and improving workflows; users who test multiple AI models on the platform report finding new creative solutions and increasing productivity.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, studying or interpreting brain signals with ultrasound is far more complex than delivering targeted stimulation.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Current and former intelligence officers and spy chiefs say that as important as that stuff is, the satellite stuff, the AI stuff, the human aspect of this work, interpreting the data, forming relationships on the ground, all that is equally important and necessary.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explaining. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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