Thesaurus results for EXPLANATION

explanation

noun

ˌek-splə-ˈnā-shən

Definition of explanation

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

Relevance

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of explanation Kazungu was then asked to buy medicine at a private pharmacy, with no explanation. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 In the study, the team also weighs a range of alternative explanations and lays out why none quite fit the evidence. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Withdrawing without explanation or a plan to reconnect just creates a new conflict, leaving the person on the receiving end scrambling to figure out what went wrong. — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 The dominant explanation remains workload — billable hours, client demands, long days, high stakes. — Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for explanation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explanation

Noun

Under the Taliban’s draconian interpretation of sharia, watching movies, playing chess, singing, and playing or listening to music are all banned.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
Under certain interpretations of the 1963 rule, courts are not allowed to weigh whether a merger might make competition stronger overall.

— Shubha Ghosh, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of interpretation

Noun

Salesforce and other software stocks have perked up over the past month, as sentiment around the group improved for a couple of reasons, including a Reuters report on take-private talks involving HR software provider Workday .

— Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
At face value, young men exercising should not be reason to sound the alarms, and yet there is something treacherous about men in their formative years placing physical beauty as the ultimate expression of self-actualization.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of reason

Noun

But the circumstances provide an unusually good illustration of how potentially enormous financial advantage can be gained from knowing in advance what a president is about to say.

— Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Holding cotton candy in one hand, Rani—whom Hudson shares with fiancé Danny Fujikawa—topped her long golden blonde hair with a cream cowboy hat that was embellished with her name and an illustration of a rose.

— Lara Walsh, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of illustration

Noun

This turns into a big argument about Issa being a weird little guy, and suddenly there are multiple potential roommate schisms in the house.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Computer science emerged as a distinct academic discipline in the following decades, when the research traditions of math and engineering came together, and arguments about the nature of the new field soon followed.

— Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of argument

Noun

Madison County Sheriff John Beeman did not immediately respond to IndyStar's request for clarification.

— Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026
Ted needs further clarification, which leads Alice to liken each to the central Harry Potter characters, which in turn requires Beard to reframe it in terms of characters from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which lines up surprisingly well.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of clarification

Noun

Council members thanked Saunders for his apology and the censure item was approved by 4-1 vote, with Saunders as the only no vote.

— James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Golf club manufacturer Callaway has issued an extended apology for their part in the Good Good Golf advertisement which showed the latter’s male co-founder shoving a female employee to the ground.

— Gregg Evans, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of apology

Noun

The labs are concentrating on making models better at marketable skills, like legal work and accounting.

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Under the policy revisions currently under consideration, PROs would be mandated to meet requirements related to organizational ability for collection, financial capacity, electronic data management and accounting.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of accounting

Browse Nearby Words

explains away

explanation

explanations

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“Explanation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explanation. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of explanation

noun

Example Sentences

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