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?

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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 The decision was posted on the White House website late in the evening, and the notification noted that the report explaining the decision had been submitted to Congress. — Will Weissert, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 Kate is once again explaining to Hal something very obvious about his own psyche and routine behavior. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026 Among dogs, the opposite holds true, and a new wave of genetic research is finally explaining why. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 But a transaction table and the PDF explaining that same transaction are not two competing sources of truth. — Osman Koc, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 One of his recent videos explaining a beach zoning vote in Hollywood received nearly 400,000 views. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 There’s also something of the uncomfortable social observation of Ruben Östlund, Bong Joon Ho or Yorgos Lanthimos, and the freedom of filmmakers who allow situations to become absurd without explaining the joke. — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Focus on what is actually worth protecting, spending, or explaining. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026 But carrying that burden forward with nothing more than hope to balance it, passing it on to future generations, explaining it to strangers, is too much. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explaining

Verb

Before meeting with a patient advocate, identify your main objectives – for example, preparing for a transition home, clarifying a treatment plan or understanding medication changes.

— Jennifer Schlinger, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
In November 2025, South Korea proposed talks on clarifying the borderline, but North Korea didn’t respond.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of clarifying

Verb

The centerpiece of the policy originally was his use of a 1977 law to declare America's longstanding trade deficits a national emergency, justifying double-digit tariffs on almost every country on Earth.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Advocacy groups are fighting to unseal the OLC’s memo justifying the deadly boat strikes in international waters.

— Perry Stein, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of justifying

Verb

There’s nothing like a crisis for illustrating who’s put in the work to develop strong muscle memory and habits of mind.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
In 2025, France TV Distribution organized a major promotional tour in Tokyo for the team, including press conferences and fan meetings, illustrating the exceptional enthusiasm ‘Bright Minds’ generates in Japan.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of illustrating

Verb

There's also the gap between demonstrating a prototype and delivering a finished vehicle.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Its progress will depend on integrating the communications hardware and demonstrating the system’s performance through testing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of demonstrating

Verb

Scores of drones have crossed into Romanian airspace over the past two years, with officials attributing many of the incursions to Russia.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
This article has been updated to clarify that Sitharaman was discussing ease of exit from India's equity market, rather than attributing stock market underperformance to excess liquidity.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of attributing

Verb

All scanners and vehicles should have compatible ports, simplifying the connection.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Its modular design is intended to support installation in field environments, potentially simplifying the process of equipping vehicles with robotic capabilities.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of simplifying

Verb

Behavioral questions are only as useful as the person interpreting them.

— Kenzie Biggins, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The discrepancy comes from Jenna interpreting the rule as one partner can’t lift the other in specific dance styles, but that’s not what happened here.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026