why 1 of 2

interjection

Definition of whynext
as in oh
how surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable why, what a strange thing to say! why, that's not possible!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

why

2 of 2

noun

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
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
To use this tool requires bravery, vulnerability and honest insights into your why. — Joanna Horton McPherson, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026 Searching for a reason The time since, with no other winners in the city, has left plenty of room for those in the business to guess at a why. — Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for why
Recent Examples of Synonyms for why
  1. oh
  2. reason
  3. mystery
  4. no
  5. motive
  6. hey
  7. grounds
  8. well
Interjection
  • Certain movements may aggravate the pain, such as, oh, swinging a golf club.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Some people think, oh, the show’s about true romance, true love conquering it all.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 8 June 2026
Definition of oh
Noun
  • The reason is that sellers will give up some money to avoid the risk that a buyer’s financing falls through.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Borisov’s brainy, tender, deeply contemplative performance lends an anchoring humanity to a film that might otherwise have curdled into sourness and despair — though there’s plenty of reason for that.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of reason
Noun
  • What these calls might mean, exactly, has long been a mystery.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But what Becerra stands for remains a mystery that only the next four years will reveal.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of mystery
Interjection
  • Repeatedly, Johnny asks for just a month — no, a week; no, a day — to prove himself.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But no, Halloween isn’t one of my favorite holidays of the year.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of no
Noun
  • In light of that revelation, Faist now sees another possible motive for Cyrus’ treatment of his sons, one driven by hubris and a desire to protect his own fictional legacy.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Police have not commented on a possible motive for Saturday's stabbing, which remains under investigation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of motive
Interjection
  • No stranger to the brand’s lineup (hey, Ginseng Essence Water and Revive Serum), ginseng is a key ingredient in this formula, helping to brighten dull skin, boost circulation, and provide all the calming vibes.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The Hollingsworths are pulled closer together once they’re informed by Nia (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy), a detective with Homeland Security — hey, there’s one more square for your federal agency bingo card!
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of hey
Noun
  • Ming Yang, a Chinese manufacturer, has already been blocked from building a factory in Scotland on national security grounds.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The house and its grounds form the backbone of filming locations, though certain spaces on the property were either too cramped or did not provide the right lighting for film production.
    — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of grounds
Interjection
  • Gen Z fared best, with most getting back more than 80 cents per dollar—but that’s still well short of breaking even.
    — Shae Lake, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Finally, evidence that the sky is really falling, because of discontent over, well, just look around.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of well

Browse Nearby Words

whups
why
whys
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Why.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/why. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of discreet

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All