wherefores

plural of wherefore
as in reasons
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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wherefores
Noun
  • But there are reasons this sort of performance goes beyond the game-state defence.
    Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In my experience, this assumption is one of the biggest reasons capital-raising campaigns fail.
    Ramesh Tambe, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Investigators quickly discovered that Hollander’s motives may have centered around his lawsuits, online postings and manifestos that denounced feminism and promoted the men’s rights movement.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • However, their return to Britain has raised questions about their motives.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wherefores.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefores. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!