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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The whole process should be audited to determine the whys and wherefores of the delays and budget increases. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026 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 Soccer, though, did not waste time wondering about the whys and wherefores. Ahmed Al Omran, New York Times, 13 July 2023 The political whys and wherefores are important — and might be left to another piece. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 May 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
  • Exchange betting firms argue their products fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a federal agency, and are therefore not subject to state gambling laws.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The fact a majority of them belong to people who traveled from another country and the conditions of the desert itself both complicate efforts to identify remains, therefore hindering missing persons cases, experts say.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Salesforce and other software stocks have perked up over the past month, as sentiment around the group improved for a couple of reasons, including a Reuters report on take-private talks involving HR software provider Workday .
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • At face value, young men exercising should not be reason to sound the alarms, and yet there is something treacherous about men in their formative years placing physical beauty as the ultimate expression of self-actualization.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Only one person in this friend group is knowingly connected to a violent cult, so are we supposed to view him as a potential suspect?
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Business is so strong that management felt comfortable enough to provide a financial outlook further into the future than ever before.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Aug. 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
  • The example up for auction was the last to leave the factory and thus is believed to be Lamborghini’s final V-12 manual, according to the auction house.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The Republicans must lose four Senate seats in the upcoming midterms for the Democrats to win control of the chamber, and thus likely control the entire Congress.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Police have not released a motive for the attacks, or the identities of the suspect and victims.
    Maddie White, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Then Front Office Sports wants documentation, competing sources and a discussion about our motives.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • What to do nearby Taking an afternoon away from the resort grounds to explore what the surrounding area has to offer is a great way to enrich the all-inclusive experience.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Europe spent two years interdicting on sanctions grounds and found the tool blunt.
    Charles Edward Gehrke, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026

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“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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