wherefore 1 of 2

Definition of whereforenext
as in therefore
for this or that reason it was getting late, and wherefore we decided to move on

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wherefore

2 of 2

noun

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

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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 wherefore
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
  • Qubits are extremely delicate, frequently losing their superposition and therefore their extra information.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026
  • He hasn’t yet been cleared to cut or run — and therefore isn’t cleared yet for full-team drills that feature a rush coming toward him.
    Sam McDowell June 3, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • There’s a good reason that rooms come with binoculars because there is almost too much action to scope.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • That depth was part of the reason the 2001-02 Kings went 61-21 and took the Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
Adverb
  • In doing so dancing, much like writing, becomes an act of generational integration and re-membering.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
  • For rare disease communities, there is no more urgent moment to do so.
    Elise Esposito, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • To use this tool requires bravery, vulnerability and honest insights into your why.
    Joanna Horton McPherson, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026
  • Searching for a reason The time since, with no other winners in the city, has left plenty of room for those in the business to guess at a why.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • Terr hopes that the settlements reached thus far will deter officials from firing or punishing employees for their speech moving forward, despite political pressure or online outrage.
    Drew Pittock, USA Today, 2 June 2026
  • The Pan Pacific Village Center is a little quieter and more residential, thus much more relaxed.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • According to Butcher, since Nancy Guthrie is the mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, the clear motive is financial greed.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 2 June 2026
  • The two candidates vying for Fulton County Commission chair repeatedly questioned each other’s motives Monday during a testy debate ahead of their runoff election.
    Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Folk dancing, storytelling, wreath workshops, live music, and traditional dishes (pickled herring, new potatoes, strawberries with cream) fill the leafy grounds of Djurgården island.
    Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • That's not much of a path for female athletes who object on fairness grounds.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026

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“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

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