REASONING Synonyms: 147 Similar and Opposite Words

reasoning 1 of 3

adjective

as in rational

having the ability to reason judged by the courts not to be a reasoning being who could be held accountable for his crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reasoning

2 of 3

noun

ˈrēz-niŋ

as in logic

the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems your reasoning here is faulty, for although all wives are spouses, not all spouses are wives

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reasoning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of reason

as in understanding

to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information she reasoned that since all of the cakes were on sale for the same price, she might as well pick the biggest one

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in arguing

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration he tried to reason that no one in their right mind would buy his brother's old video games, but they were put on the online auction anyway

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 reasoning

Noun

And to some extent, their reasoning makes sense. —

Sandy Peng, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026 The playwright understood something about the economic reasoning of such an innovation, however, for if the futurists and techno-utopians once imagined that machines would do all of our dreary work to free us to be artists, writers, and musicians, the opposite is now the case. —

Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026

Verb

But in 1970, the Supreme Court did away with the requirement, reasoning that trial courts should have leeway to call in fewer members of the community for jury service. —

Time, 17 Dec. 2025 Trying to talk sense into him would be useless, however, so a wounded Leroy hands off the dagger to Will and gives him instructions on where to bury it, reasoning that Will and his friends will be able to get to the deadwood without the military spotting them. —

Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reasoning

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reasoning

Adjective

By anchoring decisions in rational principles rather than worry about the unknowable future, retirees preserve both financial footing and emotional resilience.

— Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
As a result, multiple similar searches were carried out at various points haphazardly and a tangle of bureaucracy made authorities play catch up to press reports rather than conduct independent and rational investigations.

— Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026