as in oh
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable
why, what a strange thing to say! why, that's not possible!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing
asked the whys behind the surprising decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
how one decides that a certain person is "the one" is one of the great whys of life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of why
Filip Bondy, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2017
Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
The why: Has top-of-rotation skills and potential, is healthy and — unlike most other starters — won’t be subject to much in the way of workload restrictions.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for why
Interjection
Why, oh why, do the Rangers keep throwing away almost certain victories in the final minutes of playoff games?
—Filip Bondy, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2017
Noun
Build your own opportunities, document your journey, and stay rooted in your why.
—Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
The why: Has top-of-rotation skills and potential, is healthy and — unlike most other starters — won’t be subject to much in the way of workload restrictions.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for why
Recent Examples of Synonyms for why
Noun
-
The internet and Black art triggered awe for completely different, profound reasons.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
One reason is a viral video that shows Pretti standing over the body of a veteran who died and honoring his service.—
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Originally, this was a great mystery, as cosmic rays were known to be composed almost exclusively of protons, and the theoretical limit on a proton that traveled through intergalactic space should forbid such excessively high energies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
-
However, the exact source of these jets around their black hole central engines and the precise mechanism powering them is still something of a mystery.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Interjection
-
Without Lud Heat, there’s no From Hell.—
Hari Kunzru,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Like, no, Northy actually has a lot of rules.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Both papers hurried to make the most of this dramatic event, no matter how little reporters actually knew about the identity of the gunman or his motives for shooting four people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities have not released details on the victims’ relationship to the suspect, a possible motive for the triple murder, or how they were killed.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Generations of children grew up on these grounds.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Believe it or not, poor hygiene can be grounds for removal from a flight.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Jan. 2026
Interjection
-
That Haru is even back in the dance studio is a win, and the bonus delight of Fedir only adds to her sense that, hey, maybe this grief thing can be overcome.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2026
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And hey, coach Jeff Lebby’s recruiting class included a five-star (cornerback Bralan Womack) and was ranked ahead of Auburn, Missouri … and Indiana!—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Interjection
-
The oversharing Cynthia immediately passes this information on to her daughter, leading to a meet-cute in the laundry room that quickly escalates into Mary becoming, well, alien pregnant.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Last year, Red Velvet pancakes sold like, well, hotcakes.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Interjection
-
Oh gee, is that supposed to be me in the video with the goatee?—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
As the spigot closed, inflation spiked (gee, maybe there’s a connection?) and the economy slowed, the state budget went from a whopping surplus to stubborn deficits.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Why.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/why. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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