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 Here, The Athletic explains who York is, his background and his relationship to Leeds. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The album, Cole explains, became as much about the support surrounding heartbreak as heartbreak itself. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 That somewhat explains why Miami’s backups have looked disappointing in the two joint practices and preseason games. — Omar Kelly august 24, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026 For children who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons or pregnant teachers and family members, a lack of herd immunity can be life-threatening, Handy explains. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026 Rao explains that the cast’s intense chemistry was manufactured deliberately by Kronengold and Shaw, who paid for the actors to spend three weeks in Toronto before season-one shooting began. — Emily Gould, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026 Larger stumps will require the use of excavators or other heavy equipment, Team explains, which can quickly send the costs into the thousands. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026 The Family Support page in the main Splashtop app explains the process. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2026 Odds of getting shares were worse than one in five thousand, which explains pretty loudly why the stock popped so much on launch. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explains

Verb

That sentiment illustrates a central tension raised by many of the actors who shared their stories with CNN.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Customer experience illustrates the distinction; an evolutionary approach focuses on reducing handling time, lowering cost to serve, and improving agent productivity.

— Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of illustrates

Verb

The first clarifies that its PLX product does not provide law enforcement agencies with geolocation data, and the second says that the company has reached out to the complaint's authors to ask that the complaint against Penlink be withdrawn.

— Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
The report carefully clarifies that some of the points for analysis refer specifically to the app (for example, Claude or Gemini) while others relate to the provider (for example, Anthropic or Google).

— Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of clarifies

Verb

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
But as another voter rationalizes, the sheer size of the ballot will do more harm than good in the long run.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026

Definition of rationalizes

Verb

Reports have revealed that moving such a large and capable naval formation into a region experiencing serious tensions demonstrates that Washington is prepared to maintain substantial military capabilities there.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
An audit demonstrates that controls were tested during a prior period.

— Bora Unlu, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 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

Award-winning actor Kandis Chappell deftly illuminates the witty, feisty, vulnerable woman who was considered the heart of FDR’s presidency.

— Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
When the steering-wheel light bar illuminates in green with GM’s Super Cruise, drivers may remove their hands from the steering wheel.

— Michael Wayland, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026