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
  • Human rights organizations have renewed their criticism, airing concerns about the persecution of dissent in a country where more than 800 people are behind bars for political reasons, according to the legal rights organization Foro Penal.
    Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Lea is an Elko protégé and could appeal to PSU for many of the same reasons.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Her motives apparently range from a desire to save the country to unabashed, petty vindictiveness; the two often overlap.
    Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • While some framed their redistricting actions as a response to federal scrutiny, others pointed to openly partisan motives.
    Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
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 11 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wherefores

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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