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
Have every county and city elected official hard at work explaining to their constituents what is at stake —- and urging them to contact legislators in a mass public message of condemnation.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Wednesday Stadium Court matches moved Miami Open officials sent out an advisory Tuesday night explaining why there will be no matches on Stadium Court on Wednesday.
—Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
In explaining the study, the town outlined how important the commercial office market had been in sharing the local tax burden.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Nvidia is already responding to some of the backlash, explaining that game developers will have full artistic control over DLSS 5 and can fine-tune the model to their liking.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
In explaining why the Celtics brought in Bassey, head coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to the 25-year-old’s prior ties to the organization.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Have fun explaining exactly what went on while your child was asleep.
—Amanda Rock, Parents, 16 Mar. 2026
Thanks for explaining so much about plastic surgery.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
And, just maybe, that can go at least a few inches toward explaining the enduring popularity of mah-jongg—also variably spelled mah jong, mahjong, mah jongg, and more, with our spelling taken from Merriam-Webster—one that spans continents and centuries.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Wednesday Stadium Court matches moved Miami Open officials sent out an advisory Tuesday night explaining why there will be no matches on Stadium Court on Wednesday.
—Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
In explaining the study, the town outlined how important the commercial office market had been in sharing the local tax burden.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Nvidia is already responding to some of the backlash, explaining that game developers will have full artistic control over DLSS 5 and can fine-tune the model to their liking.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
In explaining why the Celtics brought in Bassey, head coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to the 25-year-old’s prior ties to the organization.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Have fun explaining exactly what went on while your child was asleep.
—Amanda Rock, Parents, 16 Mar. 2026
Thanks for explaining so much about plastic surgery.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
And, just maybe, that can go at least a few inches toward explaining the enduring popularity of mah-jongg—also variably spelled mah jong, mahjong, mah jongg, and more, with our spelling taken from Merriam-Webster—one that spans continents and centuries.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explaining
Verb
-
And by the subsequent extensive visit at Massachusetts General, where her father saw 14 doctors in three days, something clarifying happened and changed her perspective.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Board members voted unanimously to update the terms of the negotiating agreement during the March 10 meeting, mainly clarifying deadlines for site studies and other analysis, but with no assurance that the city’s November deadline will be met.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sheeran inserted language into the Medicaid settlement justifying the $10 million diversion on the grounds that the Hope Florida program would be expanding into Medicaid.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
-
In justifying the bilateral talks, the Cuban president cited the country’s energy collapse, noting that some areas have gone more than 30 hours without power.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The film ends up illustrating the limitations of the Storkels’ affection for re-enactments and their general interest in stories that are outlandish enough to be thrilling and bloodless enough to be treated with some measure of whimsy.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But a concurrent image release illustrating the new Artemis framework showed the program's Orion crew capsule flying on a vehicle that was unmistakably neither the ICPS or EUS.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
-
The Reactor Pilot Program itself is designed to shorten the timeline for demonstrating new reactor concepts, helping bring advanced systems closer to real-world deployment.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In addition to her work on Showtime at the Apollo, Shepard appeared in numerous television series, including A Different World, Baywatch, Baywatch Nights, NYPD Blue, Everybody Hates Chris, and Grey’s Anatomy, demonstrating a steady presence across decades of television.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The industry is just now catching up to how exceptional milky formulas are—thanks in large part to their ability to nourish without the weight; attributing their popularity to a bigger shift towards consumers concerned with overall hair health and maintaining hydration.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Contributor Yelena Alpert has a sneaking suspicion that these Frette slippers will last a lifetime, attributing her hypothesis to the shoe’s superior quality.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The initiative focuses on strengthening cybersecurity, expanding automation, and simplifying how the Air Force manages applications in cloud environments.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Joint representation allows the university, the athletes and their lawyers to freely share information without waiving attorney-client privilege, while cutting and simplifying the process for covering legal costs.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sutter is also using a tool to assist with interpreting radiology exams.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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Attractions like Anakeesta play a role in absorbing some of that demand while interpreting and celebrating the natural and cultural heritage of the region.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explaining. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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