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
Both Miller and Martinez shared a similar sentiment, explaining that business owners need to be ready to network and create a social media strategy.
—
Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
The proposal does not include a summary explaining the purpose of the observance, and no additional details have been published outlining how the dates would be calculated beyond the language in the bill text.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Managers waste hours re-explaining things.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The analyst behind the examination could not find receipts or expense reports explaining each purchase.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump does indeed need to get congressional approval to build this thing, wrote the judge, explaining straightforwardly that the president is merely the steward of the White House.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
In a video explaining the mission, Romeo Garza, the deputy assistant manager for the Orion Communication and Tracking System, said the team will test two systems before committing to reaching the moon.
—Mason Leib, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
When asked about the defective cameras in the jail and the lack of a clear timeline explaining how Epstein was able to take his own life, Blanche acknowledged mistakes.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
The trailer then shows Hagrid explaining the Wizarding World to Harry and teases some information about his deceased parents.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
The proposal does not include a summary explaining the purpose of the observance, and no additional details have been published outlining how the dates would be calculated beyond the language in the bill text.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Managers waste hours re-explaining things.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The analyst behind the examination could not find receipts or expense reports explaining each purchase.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump does indeed need to get congressional approval to build this thing, wrote the judge, explaining straightforwardly that the president is merely the steward of the White House.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
In a video explaining the mission, Romeo Garza, the deputy assistant manager for the Orion Communication and Tracking System, said the team will test two systems before committing to reaching the moon.
—Mason Leib, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
When asked about the defective cameras in the jail and the lack of a clear timeline explaining how Epstein was able to take his own life, Blanche acknowledged mistakes.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
The trailer then shows Hagrid explaining the Wizarding World to Harry and teases some information about his deceased parents.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explaining
Verb
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Stepping outside your everyday life has a way of clarifying what actually matters, and returning home with fresh eyes often makes the decisions that felt tough seem far more manageable.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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Start by clarifying priorities and boundaries this morning, then build steady momentum through the afternoon as support gathers and timing clicks into place.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Smith, the leading kratom researcher, has said the emphasis on semisynthetic 7-OH is odd because there is no evidence justifying it, and because the natural kratom alkaloid mitragynine still converts to 7-OH during manufacturing and in the body.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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For CFOs, the challenge is justifying AI spending before returns are visible.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The last Ag Reserve snapshot illustrating the breakdown is from 2023, which county officials recently presented during a 2025 meeting.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One of Mexico’s largest retailers is laying off workers in its fintech startup while scaling back its ambitions — illustrating the difficulty of establishing a foothold in the nation’s increasingly competitive financial system.—
Amy Stillman,
Bloomberg,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While rationalizing deception is easy to do, developing the virtue of truthfulness is not.—
Katherine Moses,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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If a property is flagged, farmers may challenge the designation by demonstrating that the deforestation was legal.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the promising development, a string of other restaurants and businesses have been left out, demonstrating deeper challenges for the corridor in the long term.—
Angela Osorio,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health and leading the country, an Iranian official said today, attributing his absence from public view to security concerns.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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For Koch, the surge of people attributing consciousness to their chatbots is no amusing matter.—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The company has been streamlining and simplifying its business over the past few years, according to a spokesperson’s statement to Business Insider.—
Sasha Richie,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Beyond Aero hopes to get around a lot of this by simplifying its design.—
David Szondy
March 26,
New Atlas,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This return marks yet another instance where policy in our country and consequential matters like going to war may as well be decided by the positions of constellations or as the ancient Greeks decided – by interpreting the behaviors of birds in the sky.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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Saturn's long seasonal cycles — each lasting about seven Earth years — also provide important context for interpreting changes in the planet's atmosphere and rings over time.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explaining. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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