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
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 why
Filip Bondy, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2017
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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for why
Recent Examples of Synonyms for why
Noun
-
But the status quo is upended by the arrival of Kyra Marshall (Anika Noni Rose), a woman with young kids who wants a stop sign for safety reasons.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
If nerves come up, that’s part of the process, not a reason to stop.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And that's a bit of the mystery.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Exactly why these little cookies are so pricey is a mystery, as they are loaded with additives and taste very much like a bargain-bin, manufactured cookie.—
Jolene Thym,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Interjection
-
Attention could have been easily switched to Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final, but no.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
So no, someone doesn't have your credit card number or home address from this incident.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Smith said domestic violence is believed to be the primary motive behind the killings.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Nor was there any immediate indication of a motive.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The hotel grounds include indoor and outdoor pools.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Is mere aesthetic shittiness grounds for disqualification?—
Jean Garnett,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Interjection
-
The odds look low from here, but hey, stranger things have happened.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
So, the tanker captain said, hey, what the heck?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
Interjection
-
And when the Knicks did win, well, the Celtics didn’t have Brown.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
And fashion, well, a lot of those styles and trends are coming back!—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
11 Apr. 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 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
