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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 Lanterns wastes little time explaining this backstory ad nauseam and instead creates an immediately inviting dynamic between him and Hal, who comes to him demanding information on Manhunters. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026 Washington recognizes this development, explaining efforts to quietly shift assets and troops to bases further away from Iran. — Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 Commentator Rampage Jackson indicated the need for an operation, explaining that bicep tears typically require immediate surgical repair. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Kasdan then left an eight-minute message explaining why Short’s story — about celebrating life, using humor to work through grief and more — was an important one to share. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 23 Aug. 2026 When the system detects a violation, Roblox can display a warning explaining which policy may have been broken. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Since publication of the New’s initial story, the NYC Transit has instituted a requirement that work orders without payable hours have a note explaining why. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026 CoreWeave's results this week strengthened that argument, with CEO Mike Intrator explaining that older Nvidia GPUs are remaining useful longer than some investors expected. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026 Ford, who could not attend in person, sent a video explaining his excitement at being involved in the ride mechanics for the first time. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explaining

Verb

The city also installed new signs in parks clarifying the changes.

— Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Organizations achieving meaningful value are redesigning workflows, establishing governance frameworks, investing in workforce readiness and clarifying accountability alongside technology deployment.

— Jayasri Ranganathan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of clarifying

Verb

Only medical reasons can be used in justifying concurrent surrogacy, and a qualified physician must attest to them in writing.

— Arthur L. Caplan, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026
So what can Apple offer to convince buyers not to pick up the cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 8, while justifying the extra cost?

— Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifying

Verb

Koontz, who is famously devoted to his dogs, delivers a book of nail-biting suspense that’s packed with emotion, illustrating how an expert blends genres.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026
The crossing of the $30 trillion mark only dates back to January 2022, illustrating the rapid growth in federal borrowing needs.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of illustrating

Verb

The offense was bad Saturday, and there’s no spin or rationalizing the performance.

— Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Is there still unfinished business in rationalizing the excesses of the semiconductor surge, which formed the core of the momentum-stock frenzy?

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of rationalizing

Verb

The contests appear to be designed for virality, with young competitors often demonstrating exaggerated versions of popular TikTok dance moves for the audience.

— Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Finally, Pivot Toward Relevance by integrating allyship into daily operations and business strategy, demonstrating its direct impact on performance and career growth.

— Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of demonstrating

Verb

Boeing has admitted fault in these tragedies, attributing the cause of the crashes to a flawed Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).

— Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Smith said the award, which was given Saturday at the organization’s gala, had nothing to do with journalism, attributing the dishonor to board members unhappy with his political opinions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of attributing

Verb

Launched in 2023, her app connects users for in-person group activities like yoga and language exchanges, simplifying the process of forming new friendships.

— Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
His approach is centered on simplifying the collector’s construction and reducing its reliance on expensive materials.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of simplifying

Verb

Trouble with the way samples are handled or the presence of other medical conditions such as kidney problems or viral illnesses can also lead to confusion with interpreting the results.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Interiors are a fresh take on classic British West Indies elegance, nodding to the overall aesthetic of Little Palm’s past but re-interpreting it as tropical chic of the present.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026