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
The political whys and wherefores are important — and might be left to another piece.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 May 2023
As in most of Tim and Eric’s sketch humor, there are few whys and wherefores.
—Austin Considine, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020
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
In addition to gleaning the why and wherefore behind America’s foundational document, teenage listeners will meet up with the Declaration of Independence and a roster of seminal Supreme Court decisions.
—Louis Bayard, New York Times, 28 May 2018
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
The political whys and wherefores are important — and might be left to another piece.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 May 2023
As in most of Tim and Eric’s sketch humor, there are few whys and wherefores.
—Austin Considine, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020
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
In addition to gleaning the why and wherefore behind America’s foundational document, teenage listeners will meet up with the Declaration of Independence and a roster of seminal Supreme Court decisions.
—Louis Bayard, New York Times, 28 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wherefore
Adverb
-
As a practical matter, this was perfectly logical for a regime that saw getting the bomb as central to its survival: How else could the Iranians produce nuclear weapons free from external reliance and therefore vulnerability?—
John R. Bolton,
The Atlantic,
9 July 2025
-
Advertisers could argue that such agreements reflected primarily freedom of expression and therefore entitled to First Amendment protection.—
Alden Abbott,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
But there’s an obvious reason the hotel keeps the interiors somewhat understated.—
Hannah Freedman,
Travel + Leisure,
13 July 2025
-
The Trump administration is ending provisions that temporarily protected immigrants who lack permanent legal status from deportations for humanitarian reasons.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
13 July 2025
Adverb
-
Meanwhile…things haven’t looked so good for Starbucks in China recently, and not just because its baristas can’t spell names in Chinese characters, either.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
-
Doing so helped to clarify ongoing gaps in accessibility, which states could then strategically address in future iterations of grant program design.—
Linda Darling-Hammond,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Build your own opportunities, document your journey, and stay rooted in your why.—
Zoya Hasan,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
The why: Dazzling September debut quickly escalated expectations that the hard-throwing lefty will become a major bullpen weapon.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
That performance came hours after he was named to the All-Star Game, replacing teammate Max Fried, who is set to start for the Yankees on Saturday and thus opted against pitching in next week’s exhibition in Atlanta.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
12 July 2025
-
The New York Knicks have had a relatively quiet NBA offseason thus far.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Rogers didn't accuse Patterson of having a specific motive, but also said that wasn't required for a guilty verdict.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
7 July 2025
-
No suspect has been identified, and police have no information on a motive as of Saturday afternoon.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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