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
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
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
-
Advertisement The vote could therefore play a key role in deciding who controls the House after the midterms.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The site plan for Costco was under the purview of the commission and was therefore able to be approved subject to approval of the other applications by the council.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
During the tour for the band's previous album, We, singer Feist dropped out of the lineup as the opening act, citing the accusations against Butler as the reason for her departure.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
There are many reasons to want to preserve or rebuild oyster reefs, researchers say.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency is not so fortunate, said Renee Pertile, early childhood director at the agency.—
Beki San Martin,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
This is why economists are so preoccupied with a country’s debt-to-GDP ratio, basically whether a country is growing enough to justify its borrowing, which is projected to spiral to 156% by 2055 according to the CBO.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But maybe the most important thing isn’t the why, but the fact that the appearance happened at all.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 July 2025
-
Build your own opportunities, document your journey, and stay rooted in your why.—
Zoya Hasan,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adverb
-
The plaintiffs insist that the arbitration clause is unconscionable and thus unenforceable, but Vargas disagreed.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
This isn’t just shot in black-and-white, thus resembling the 1960 meta-commentary on American crime thrillers and pulp fictions in all its monochromatic glory.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Here are the major revelations from the interview and the leading theories about Wuornos’s motives.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
-
While the workers, in the trees, stay still, the bull’s looming, drifting presence gives frozen stillness an unambiguous motive and makes moments when people shift and even leap from branch to branch terrifyingly suspenseful.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The phenomenon, known as granular jamming, has long fascinated physicists who study how materials like sand and coffee grounds can switch from flowing freely to becoming rigid under pressure.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The picturesque grounds tend to steal the show here, though.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share