1
as in interpretation
a statement that makes something clear
an explanation of photosynthesis that most museum visitors will be able to understand
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in reason
a statement given to explain a belief or act
when questioned by authorities, the students were at a loss for an explanation for their senseless vandalism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of explanation
Among them was the explanation that Wuhan – the Chinese city where the virus first began spreading – is home to a prominent virology lab.
—
Michael Loria, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
In fact, in some cases, providing explanations can reduce trust by exposing the system’s limitations or offering post-hoc rationalizations that users instinctively recognize as hollow.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
The fact that the network still chose to disappear Wagner’s movie—and then to re-appear it later on, still without an explanation—suggests that the institution is at sea.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2025
Read More: The New CDC Study on Vaccines and Autism Should Take a Radical Approach
Kennedy doesn’t agree with that explanation.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explanation
Michael Loria, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
In fact, in some cases, providing explanations can reduce trust by exposing the system’s limitations or offering post-hoc rationalizations that users instinctively recognize as hollow.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
The fact that the network still chose to disappear Wagner’s movie—and then to re-appear it later on, still without an explanation—suggests that the institution is at sea.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2025
Read More: The New CDC Study on Vaccines and Autism Should Take a Radical Approach
Kennedy doesn’t agree with that explanation.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explanation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explanation
Noun
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Once hypothesized as a jellyfish, fungus or even a giant protist, science now favors an animal interpretation.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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In Vogue's interpretation of the Met's production, which opens December 14, Hansel and Gretel are played by actor Andrew Garfield and model Lily Cole.—
Hamish Bowles,
Vogue,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The reason for the independence, the Brookings Institution explains, is that politicians tend to want lower interest rates because lower rates stimulate the economy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
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The reason for the increase in the Tigers’ team score came after a review of Mizzou’s third rotation — balance beam.—
Henry Chappell,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Photo illustration by Tsering Bista/NPR When journalist Conz Preti brought her three children to visit family in Argentina in 2022, her four-year-old son did something surprising.—
Julia Furlan,
NPR,
5 Apr. 2025
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After the illustrations were complete, Smith had a few Dreamers stand and introduce their super hero characters to the world.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Combs’ defense team made arguments for delaying the trial up to two months, but the judge was not swayed.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Gregory, who became known as Gregory the Great, had reasons to advance such an argument.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With apologies to Brian Schottenheimer, how about Dallas?—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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Godwin, now 18, pleaded guilty to the murder that outraged the city, offering an apology for the shooting.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Given demographic shifts forcing fewer workers to support more retirees, Social Security trust funds—as accounting constructs, not pots of gold—are scheduled under current law to be insufficient to make full payments within the next 10 years.—
Doug Criscitello,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Randall has a scholarly background in accounting, and his attraction to pluralism is fittingly pragmatic.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Furthermore, China restricts the import of many U.S.-grown foods through its slow and complex approval process for biotech crops, often citing health and safety concerns as justification.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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Proposing de-extinction as justification for rolling back the Endangered Species Act and its many effective protections is a dangerous distraction.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Currie also questioned the economic rationale for seafloor mining.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
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The system developed its top hypothesis with a simple rationale, drawing a link to another research area and coming to a conclusion the human team had taken years to arrive at.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explanation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explanation. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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