EXPLAINS Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

explains

verb

present tense third-person singular of explain

as in illustrates

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 justifies

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 explains The discovery explains why attempts in the past to develop hindbrain neurons from ectoderm stem cells failed – those cells had already been locked in as forebrain or midbrain neurons. — Mike McRae 21, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026 First runner-up was Italian director Paolo Strippoli’s The Spiral, in which a woman’s estranged mother shows up on her doorstep with a sinister story that explains an incident in their past. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026 Veterinarian Jamie Lovejoy, DVM, explains that warm compresses may be recommended for arthritis or certain stages of injury recovery, according to PetMD. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Nearly a year after the ceasefire in Gaza, the analyst Jaser AbuMousa explains the impediments to rebuilding, and the devastation of his own family. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 One of the contractors explains that the plan was to abduct Joe in Virginia, transport her to Houston and eventually hand her over to KSS. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026 So, perhaps that explains why Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home until mid-November. — CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 The ghost moon The leading explanation, Santos-Sanz explains, is a small shepherd satellite sharing the outer ring’s orbit. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 19 Sep. 2026 Walker explains that with the sheep, any expression has to come through their body language and eyebrows and eye movements and mouths. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explains

Verb

Director Josef Kubota Wladyka illustrates the pluses and minuses of Haru’s potent imagination, resulting in a film that’s sexy, bittersweet and absurdist.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Honoring Nigo’s work and influence, the exhibition analyzes and illustrates the cultural fusions that have shaped his lifework through fashion, music, and design — from Japanese craft and streetwear to vintage Americana and contemporary luxury.

— Footwear News, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of illustrates

Verb

Engineering, data, security and compliance may own different controls, but someone must own the operational result and decide whether the evidence justifies further investment.

— Taras Tymoshchuk, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
For wealth advisors and the product providers, like AQR and Quantinno, the complexity justifies the fees and benefits.

— Robert Frank, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of justifies

Verb

Haddad clarifies that vinyl itself doesn’t rust, which means that any visible rust on the siding is coming from something else.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Sep. 2026
The new guidance clarifies that the mandatory testing would initially apply to only male service members.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of clarifies

Verb

Patchett rationalizes Mary’s decision by establishing that Nutmeg was old.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
But since neo-Brandeisian thought rejects economics as a pseudo-science that rationalizes the desires of capital owners, that objection carries little weight.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026

Definition of rationalizes

Verb

This summer’s strong box office demonstrates once again that Americans still love going to the movies.

— Paul Gunsky, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
Attaching both Adrian and Andy to this production, and supporting them with our state-of-the-art process, demonstrates Audible as being the home of cinematic audio storytelling.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of demonstrates

Verb

That level of integration not only simplifies the workflow for beginners but also creates a more efficient and consistent experience for professionals who regularly produce parts.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
For an unguided experience, his company’s Rental and Ride package simplifies the logistics of a point-to-point river trip by coordinating the drop-off and downriver pickup.

— Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of simplifies

Verb

The Aries Full Moon illuminates your private 12th house, bringing an old emotion, habit, memory, or attachment closer to the surface.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Each such pattern illuminates a fragment of the absolute Galois group’s structure.

— Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026