1
as in logical
according to the rules of logic
even a well-founded argument can lead to an erroneous conclusion if one of the premises is incorrect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information
a well-founded complaint about the business's treatment of its customers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 well-founded
His concern now seems well-founded.
—
Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
The concerns are well-founded: Higher speeds increase the risk to pedestrians and cyclists in particular.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 21 Dec. 2025
In the settlement agreement, Ceratizit neither admits liability nor concedes that the government’s claims are well-founded.
—Desiree Mathurin
december 19, Charlotte Observer, 19 Dec. 2025
And that uncertainty may be well-founded, because according to The Athletic national baseball writer and former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, there's another All-Star second baseman in the division who could make sense for New York.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
That fear was probably well-founded.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
One of these targets was to define a sound and well-founded strategy for Calik Denim to become a carbon-neutral company.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
That confidence proved well-founded.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
While these fears may be well-founded, our response should not be to reject crypto altogether, but rather embrace thoughtful policies to mitigate risks, protect consumers, and promote transparency.
—Jeremy Cooney, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 29 Jan. 2026
The concerns are well-founded: Higher speeds increase the risk to pedestrians and cyclists in particular.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 21 Dec. 2025
In the settlement agreement, Ceratizit neither admits liability nor concedes that the government’s claims are well-founded.
—Desiree Mathurin
december 19, Charlotte Observer, 19 Dec. 2025
And that uncertainty may be well-founded, because according to The Athletic national baseball writer and former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, there's another All-Star second baseman in the division who could make sense for New York.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
That fear was probably well-founded.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
One of these targets was to define a sound and well-founded strategy for Calik Denim to become a carbon-neutral company.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 28 Aug. 2025
That confidence proved well-founded.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
While these fears may be well-founded, our response should not be to reject crypto altogether, but rather embrace thoughtful policies to mitigate risks, protect consumers, and promote transparency.
—Jeremy Cooney, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well-founded
Adjective
-
That focus on efficiency included a coldly logical approach to salary-cap management, and an update of the bruising defense that Belichick had pioneered with 49ers old rivals, the 1980s iteration of the New York Giants.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has taken this tradition to its logical extreme by exempting from legal consequences his supporters and those following his instructions—seeming to assert his supremacy over not just federal but state laws, which exceeds even the wide powers conferred by the Constitution.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Columbia Heights was as prepared for an immigration crackdown as could be reasonably expected of any community or school system—but there has been nothing reasonable about the ICE terror campaign.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Finding that type of player, for a reasonable price, is the difficult part.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Travelers can pay the ConfirmID fee online, and the payment is valid for 10 days from the first date of travel.—
Jordan Green,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
3 Feb. 2026
-
October 23 – November 21 Your needs are valid, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This is a time for cool, calm and reasoned debate, and for legislators to think through the consequences of legislation put forth.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The ledger is the foundation of reasoned conclusion.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Anyone who has made an impulsive decision in a moment of intense emotion knows that feelings shape our choices just as much as rational thought.—
Jasna Hodžić,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There was no rational administration.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Savvy therapists are leveraging AI in sensible and vital ways.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Villa’s second goal came from a sensible decision by Morgan Rogers after an attacking corner was cleared.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Each issue curates essays, interviews, frameworks, and visual explainers that add up to a coherent exploration of a topic that matters.—
Daphne Koller,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This is where disparate clips, resolutions, and sound sources are unified into a coherent narrative.—
Paul Ratner,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In the clip, Durant rattled off several tweets that referenced his ashy skin while promoting his partnership with CeraVe, responding to the critics' takes online with justified explanations of each — and a healthy dose of a good sense of humor.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
So civil disobedience and noncompliance are indeed justified.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Well-founded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-founded. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
