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
-
Bullet casings recovered at the scene were etched with anti-fascist messages, suggesting ideological motives.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In the laconic tones of a police report, Ibargüengoitia investigates the murders and their motives, the society and the profession - the oldest of all, but no less mysterious for that - which precipitated them.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When sheriff’s deputies were raiding his home in May, Mutch had excuses for both alleged crimes, according to the criminal complaint.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Bad Wi-Fi is basically a modern tragedy, and there are no excuses for living like that in 2025 anymore.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The chamber has urged Beijing to consider ways to fix the root causes of overproduction and give the private sector a bigger role in major industries such as healthcare where state entities tend to hold a greater sway in China.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Lisa Lake/Getty Images for MoveOn Ben & Jerry's has become known for more than its ice cream, garnering publicity for championing a number of social causes relating to climate change, racial justice and immigration.—
Hugh Cameron
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Perhaps the importance of the Ali-Frazier match derives from the extremity of those blood-sport contradictions.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Before there was Latin trap, Puerto Rico was transfixed by reggaetón, a swaggering style based on a loping, staccato beat known as dembow, which derives from dancehall reggae.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Runge argues in The Great Healthcare Disruption that innovation without humanity risks leaving patients behind, while humanity without innovation risks stalling medical progress.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
And seabed curtains could divert warm water toward other glaciers, the paper argues, or disrupt the upwelling of nutrients that feed phytoplankton—a crucial food for many other species.—
Alec Luhn,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are scheduled to make their closing arguments on Wednesday, court records show.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Steer clear of controversial subjects to avoid arguments.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 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 18 Sep. 2025.
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