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
-
Some imagery on the shirt, depicting Haitian revolutionaries from the early 1800s, was declared political and therefore not allowed, having fallen foul of FIFA’s often quite stringent rules around kits at World Cups.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics, expressed concerns that officials were underplaying the risk, noting that this is one of the largest cold storage facilities in the state and therefore contains massive amounts of ammonia.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Many fans cited transportation logistics and enhanced security measures as key reasons for the delays.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
So what was the real reason Ilunga did it?—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Adverb
-
The Targaryen civil war has been a bit of a slow burn so far, though both sides of the family have suffered major casualties.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Growing numbers of Labour MPs called for Starmer to quit, but with Burnham unable to run as party leader – and hence prime minister – since rules and convention state that only serving MPs can do so, no one was willing or able to launch an official challenge.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
19 June 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
-
This game's star man is no doubt Mohammed Al-Owais, who produced the best goalkeeping performance of this World Cup thus far.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
My only entry point was Kendrick's vote of confidence, more notable for the fact that the honor had thus far gone only to his cousin Baby Keem (who this year released a great record beholden to event-album constraints).—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
But so far no suspect has been identified, and police haven’t even disclosed a motive.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
16 June 2026
-
On top of doggedly tracking a serial killer whose murder spree started decades earlier, our shrewd heroine uncovers a tangled workplace conspiracy that's as sinister as her prime suspect's motives.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Ride share lots are far from the stadium grounds, so fans are urged to step out of their comfort zone and use public transportation.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
-
But a much larger crowd is expected to watch on The Ellipse, near the Lincoln Memorial and surrounding areas outside of the White House grounds.—
Isabella Murray,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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