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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reasoning
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Fans loved it, which could be part of the reasoning behind this new pint launch.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Like Sherlock Holmes or Benoit Blanc, Grace relies on reasoning to uncover the truth — only, in his case, billions of lives depend on his deductions.
—Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reasoning
Noun
See Mike’s reasoning above for the specifics as to why.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Fans loved it, which could be part of the reasoning behind this new pint launch.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Predictably, our children will develop deeper critical-thinking and independent-reasoning abilities.
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Like Sherlock Holmes or Benoit Blanc, Grace relies on reasoning to uncover the truth — only, in his case, billions of lives depend on his deductions.
—Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reasoning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reasoning
Adjective
-
Knowledge is not understood as the product of an objective and rational analysis of reality, but as the result of an intersubjective negotiation process.—
Florian Wintterlin,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
-
No rational argument could convince them otherwise.—
Nataliya Gumenyuk,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The same logic applies in the reverse case for low floors.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The logic applies even in some IT functions.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Signs of a stroke can be identified by sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech; issues with eyesight; loss of balance, dizziness, and difficulty walking; and severe headache with no identifiable cause.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This diversity has huge implications for understanding galactic evolution.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Video obtained by The News shows the victim arguing with the dog owner when a woman in red storms up and starts swinging.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The West Texas project recently received the largest air pollution permit ever granted in the US, while Musk’s Memphis project has faced multiple lawsuits arguing the gas turbines are worsening air quality in historically Black communities.—
Mark Chediak,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The son of four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, he is viewed as a physical and intelligent defender.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Our interface makes intelligent use of swipes and gestures rather than tapping or dialing.—
David Szondy
April 25,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the status quo is upended by the arrival of Kyra Marshall (Anika Noni Rose), a woman with young kids who wants a stop sign for safety reasons.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
If nerves come up, that’s part of the process, not a reason to stop.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On Thursday, a jury found Geisy Rodriguez Brito, 33, of Royal Palm Beach, guilty of human trafficking and unlawful use of a two-way communications device but not guilty of deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution or witness tampering.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The very legitimacy of deriving general principles from the particulars of experience can never be established from experience without already having the principle in hand.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Talma, a 6-foot, 175-pounder has track speed and is part of the Hornets state-championship contending 400-meter relay team.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reasoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reasoning. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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