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
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
1
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
2
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reasoning
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
That reasoning path is among the most valuable things a model can learn from.
—
Gordon Ritter,
Fortune,
11 June 2026
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Initially working out of a facility in the industrial section of Seattle, Stephenson gathered a group of like minds to brainstorm new methods for reaching space, reasoning that chemical rockets had not much improved in the decades since their debut.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reasoning
Noun
The organization focuses on helping candidates understand the reasoning patterns embedded within exam questions while strengthening confidence in decision-making.
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Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
That reasoning path is among the most valuable things a model can learn from.
—
Gordon Ritter,
Fortune,
11 June 2026
Verb
Altman even senses that some employers are hiding behind AI when reasoning their workforce layoffs.
—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Initially working out of a facility in the industrial section of Seattle, Stephenson gathered a group of like minds to brainstorm new methods for reaching space, reasoning that chemical rockets had not much improved in the decades since their debut.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reasoning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reasoning
Adjective
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Ray advises Anna to let the police handle the situation, which confirms him as the most rational character on the show and thus the only threat that Cady seems to recognize.
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Research from the LinkedIn B2B Institute, conducted with Les Binet and Peter Field, found that emotional B2B campaigns deliver roughly seven times the long-term effectiveness of rational ones.
Noun
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Cape Verde is camel logic on a football pitch.
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The same logic operates on the other side of the marketplace.
Verb
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The lack of information generally is a big issue for blind travelers as well, along with airline and airport employees not understanding the rules that govern accommodations for blind passengers.
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For businesspeople, institutional investors, consumers with credit card or automobile debt, or anyone or anything else — for you — understanding the Fed is important.
Verb
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Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, officials are pausing data center development for one year, with vocal neighbors arguing that the risk posed by a controversial project outweigh the threat of litigation.
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President Donald Trump‘s first-term Attorney General Bill Barr is making an aggressive public push for Senate Republicans to confirm Todd Blanche as the nation’s next attorney general, arguing the president’s acting Justice Department chief is the best person to lead the department.
Adjective
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The human brain is the ultimate existence proof that intelligent systems that are vastly more energy-efficient than today’s AI are physically possible.
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It was revered for its intelligent satire of modern society and materialism, providing sight gags and slapstick humor for kids while proving relatable for young adults learning to navigate life.
Noun
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There are good reasons to do so again, though as contenders acquiring young talent is not a necessity for the Pacers.
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However, Gen Zers also cited reasons for not finding such meaning.
Verb
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Adoring the outcome means deriving joy from seeing the success of others.
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But deriving a unified theory of volcanism will require a geologic Manhattan Project.
Verb
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Critics also have challenged the report’s characterization of cases involving women, contending these were consensual affairs that were sinful but not abusive.
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In the special, Arcuri tackles topics like marital pranks and urinal mind games while contending, on the more serious side, with his wife Katie Thurston’s cancer journey.
Cite this Entry
“Reasoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reasoning. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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