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
-
The sport, therefore, has a strong relationship with the military, with troops in such environments regularly skinning up mountains before skiing back down.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
That means ballots mailed close to the March 17 deadline could potentially not be postmarked by Election Day and therefore deemed invalid.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Lawmakers in New Mexico also cited the intense immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota as a reason to limit cooperation with ICE.—
David A. Lieb,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
While Western thought often separates the two, in Chinese culture, emotion and reason are more deeply intertwined.—
Precious Adesina,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The galaxies that are so familiar and ubiquitous in our Universe today will die, at least in a sense, as well.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
-
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 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
-
An assistant under Bradley and Cherundolo, Dos Santos’ first-choice tactics will be to possess the ball, counterpress and defend as far as possible from the LAFC goal, thus dominating games while attacking more through the inside with a 4-2-3-1 formation.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Numerous Indian army camps thus dot these mountains, where slogans of guns and glory are scrawled on their walls.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Bree suddenly understands why Lucy's motive and tries to support her, but her life starts to fall apart, and she gets expelled from Baird.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Sullivan said the motive was under investigation, including whether members of Congress were the target.—
Gary Fields,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fresh coffee grounds can help absorb unwanted odors.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The federal investigators encountered puddles of crude oil on the facility grounds, as well as caustic fumes emanating from the facility, resulting in violations for air quality and other environmental infractions.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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