1
as in explanations
a statement given to explain a belief or act
she gave a good reason for her seemingly suspicious behavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in motives
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing
a firm belief that we are here on earth to help others is the reason for her tireless volunteer work
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in excuses
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
what reason do you have for being in such a bad mood?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in causes
someone or something responsible for a result
what's the meteorological reason for tornadoes?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in derives
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 argues
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 reasons
Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Housing is one of the reasons anyone in tech will tell you that the industry is thriving in California largely in spite of regulations, not because of them.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
App Marketing The latest financial results for AppLovin highlight the reasons behind the surge in investor interest in the stock.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Gaga joins other artists including Sting and Adele, who both recently postponed concerts due to medical reasons.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
One of the reasons Arsenal failed to challenge for the title last season is because of their bad start under Jonas Eidevall.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
The village government noticed, but not for the same reasons.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
In Simpson’s April 2023 indictment, prosecutors cited prior convictions for burglary, robbery and assault as reasons for their pursuing a sentencing enhancement.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Trump claimed without evidence that McEntarfer had manipulated statistics for political reasons.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Housing is one of the reasons anyone in tech will tell you that the industry is thriving in California largely in spite of regulations, not because of them.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
App Marketing The latest financial results for AppLovin highlight the reasons behind the surge in investor interest in the stock.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Gaga joins other artists including Sting and Adele, who both recently postponed concerts due to medical reasons.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
One of the reasons Arsenal failed to challenge for the title last season is because of their bad start under Jonas Eidevall.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
The village government noticed, but not for the same reasons.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
In Simpson’s April 2023 indictment, prosecutors cited prior convictions for burglary, robbery and assault as reasons for their pursuing a sentencing enhancement.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reasons
Noun
-
Checking the boxes Rings and moons aren't the only potential explanations for blockages seen during occultations.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Other more mundane explanations of disappearances include weather, such as rogue waves, human error and more.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Coming up with an answer forces us to speculate about alien motives.—
Matthew Hutson,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Authorities, meanwhile, have not disclosed any information about the suspect's identity, possible motives, or the victims' identities.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That drug is known to metabolize into the identical psych profile an anabolic steroid will produce … Not making excuses or asking for a pass, just putting it out there as a detail that may have been confused with a laundry list of other potential suspects.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The 2025 Wi-Fi Extender turns every corner of your house into usable internet, no excuses.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In addition, the plan is to launch an education and awareness initiative on screen time, one of the causes of inactivity, which will be led by the surgeon general.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Kennedy had previously promised some answers on the root causes in September; NIH is expected to announce autism research grants this month.—
Sarah Owermohle,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There are innumerable factors that shape where and how someone derives happiness.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Zurzuvae is a synthetic form of allopregnanolone, a naturally occurring neurosteroid that derives from the hormone progesterone.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In this way, its role as a familiar calendar entity argues profoundly for itself, unsinkable and ever-long.—
Jordan Michelman,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
-
And the administration argues the toy companies brought their challenge in the wrong court so it should not be considered at all.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments in the federal case May 15.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Oral arguments are expected to take place in November.—
Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The justifications for the slaughter which started out so white hot after October 7th have cooled now, become more immaterial and incoherent.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The justifications are endless, as are the streams of books and websites making the case.—
Naomi S. Baron,
The Conversation,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reasons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reasons. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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