as in therefore
for this or that reason
it was getting late, and wherefore we decided to move on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing
demanded to know the whys and wherefores for the decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wherefore
Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025
But none of those 265 pages of wherefores and whereases on the sports authority website are legally binding.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
Eschewing cheap shots, McBride favors a careful, winding excavation – reaching into history for the whys and wherefores of his novels’ crowded casts, while delivering whopper stories with electric finales.
—Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Oct. 2023
Soccer, though, did not waste time wondering about the whys and wherefores.
—Ahmed Al Omran, New York Times, 13 July 2023
Julian Fellowes, a master writer who understands so well all the peculiarities of time and place, manners and historical significance of the whys and wherefores of his fictional inhabitants, is to be applauded.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2019
Adverb
The musicians, especially but not exclusively Jerry Garcia, whose death in 1995 only technically ended the Dead, prove remarkably articulate about the why and wherefore of their music and the group mind that created it.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
For one thing: we are reminded of the American purpose, our whys and wherefores.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025
But none of those 265 pages of wherefores and whereases on the sports authority website are legally binding.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
Eschewing cheap shots, McBride favors a careful, winding excavation – reaching into history for the whys and wherefores of his novels’ crowded casts, while delivering whopper stories with electric finales.
—Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Oct. 2023
Soccer, though, did not waste time wondering about the whys and wherefores.
—Ahmed Al Omran, New York Times, 13 July 2023
Julian Fellowes, a master writer who understands so well all the peculiarities of time and place, manners and historical significance of the whys and wherefores of his fictional inhabitants, is to be applauded.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wherefore
Adverb
-
His lawyers also claimed the federal judge overseeing the case was too harsh in sentencing Combs and therefore violated his constitutional rights.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Many credit unions were originally focused on a single community, and therefore dependent on its economic fate.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And geography proved important when Leroy and Jarzyna looked for reasons why so many bird species are shrinking ever faster.—
Seth Borenstein,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The reason CrowdStrike shares are down 16% this year, alongside many other enterprise software companies, is that some investors believe that large language models (LLMs), with their rapidly improving capabilities, will one day displace even the best traditional cybersecurity vendors.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Everything is so expensive most people cannot afford to stock up.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe the dress on her seems so effortless that people want to invent a way to complicate it.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Every character is fully developed and has a why, and every backstory is so rich.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Build your own opportunities, document your journey, and stay rooted in your why.—
Zoya Hasan,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adverb
-
Their application was thus automatically approved.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The scientists found the three innermost stars are more massive and hotter than the sun, while the outermost component, the fourth star, is cooler, less massive and thus similar to the sun.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now, his personal life, criminal history and private affiliations are under extreme scrutiny as investigators dissect his motive.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Fifteen years later, prosecutors charged Jones with second-degree murder, alleging rivalry and fights among teammates as possible motives.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One thing to keep in mind is that the deterrent effect of coffee grounds may be more temporary than other methods.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The tournament even promotes itself with that slogan, including an imposing overhead sign in the center of the venue grounds.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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