Thesaurus results for EXPLANATIONS

explanations

noun

plural of explanation

as in interpretations

a statement that makes something clear an explanation of photosynthesis that most museum visitors will be able to understand

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as in reasons

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

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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 explanations Three market watchers looked at the same week and came away with three different explanations as to why this might be. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026 In a nearly 90-minute livestream that can be viewed on YouTube, the 22-year-old mayor gave detailed explanations for several of the allegations against him. — Reed Williams, AJC.com, 29 July 2026 Potential explanations include effects on circadian rhythms, inflammation, metabolism and the body's nutrient-sensing pathways. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 July 2026 There is no shortage of explanations for this broad cultural shift. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 But there were also easy-to-spot explanations for Östlund’s lack of production. — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 27 July 2026 Claude records the screen and listens to spoken explanations. — Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 Officers using Flock had to write a brief explanation of the reason for conducting a search, but these explanations were vague. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 July 2026 But ultimately, Roman said, the best explanations transcend specific administrations. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explanations

Noun

Its vague wording has led to conflicting interpretations of control, competing shipping routes, and confusion over the 60-day fee waiver limit.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Bayreuth's 239th Ring Cycle was an encyclopedia of interpretations rather than a new one.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of interpretations

Noun

From environmental factors to watering and fertilizing regimens, here are some of the most common reasons why crepe myrtles don’t flower and what to do about it.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Deals like this appear because people buy on impulse, then quickly lose interest for various reasons.

— Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of reasons

Noun

In short websites for the book in English and Spanish, website designer Mavila Trujillo used illustrations, video, photos and audio recordings with short text to make some of that conviviality more visible.

— Chenier Carpio Opua, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026
Earlier this summer, designer Silvia Tcherassi teamed up with the iconic Grand Hotel Quisisana in Capri for a new collection complete with illustrations paying homage to some of the property’s most recognizable spaces.

— Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2026

Definition of illustrations

Noun

The Sezioni Unite — the highest rung of the Cassazione — accepted her arguments and overturned previous rulings, including one by a lower tier of the Cassazione which had upheld the minor issue as recently as 2024.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
They are sometimes submitted by outside parties in lawsuits to help stress particular arguments or inform a judge’s thinking.

— Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of arguments

Noun

With apologies to Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland is our greatest teenage Spider-Man.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 July 2026
For more than a decade, Charli XCX was a secret weapon, a brazen experimentalist, a raw diarist, and (apologies to Chappell Roan) your favorite artist’s favorite artist.

— Caryn Ganz, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026

Definition of apologies

Noun

Echoing Turkey’s justifications for its contentious S-400 acquisition completed the year before, which led a ban from the F-35 program and CAATSA sanctions slapped on Ankara, Iraqi officials claimed America offered no viable alternative.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
And in many cases, the same justifications elucidated by Douglass remain.

— Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Definition of justifications

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explanation

explanations

explanative

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“Explanations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explanations. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of explanations

noun

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