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
Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Every character is fully developed and has a why, and every backstory is so rich.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Oct. 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
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
Every character is fully developed and has a why, and every backstory is so rich.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for why
Recent Examples of Synonyms for why
Interjection
-
Councilmembers McOsker, Bob Blumenfield, John Lee, Adrin Nazarian and Monica Rodriguez voted no.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Little polyurethane nodes are cast in the shape of Cs on the medial side and no.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Many fans cited transportation logistics and enhanced security measures as key reasons for the delays.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
So what was the real reason Ilunga did it?—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
There is also the mystery around the captivity of Otto Hightower, Alicent’s father.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
For those who prefer fiction to nonfiction, mysteries edge out science fiction and fantasy as the most popular genre overall, and they are favored by both women and readers who read the most books per year (though men are more likely to pick up sci-fi and fantasy).—
Fred Backus,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Interjection
-
But hey, the factory workers do finally get their pizza party during the credits!—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
The actor is also well-aware of Almanzo’s heartthrob status — hey, someone in Walnut Grove had to be the town hunk!—
Kelly Martinez,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
But so far no suspect has been identified, and police haven’t even disclosed a motive.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
16 June 2026
-
On top of doggedly tracking a serial killer whose murder spree started decades earlier, our shrewd heroine uncovers a tangled workplace conspiracy that's as sinister as her prime suspect's motives.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Interjection
-
And in the Windsor Enclosure, well, just about anything goes.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
But there’s also something more disquieting at work here, and not just when George’s advances begin to feel very much like, well, advances.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
She's credited with creating a conservation movement in southern Lebanon that protected sea turtle nesting grounds and southern Lebanon's Mediterranean coast.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
21 June 2026
-
In 2019, as Scientific American reported at the time, researchers discovered that some poison frog dads may travel as far as 400 meters (or about a quarter of a mile) in an apparent search for ideal nursery grounds.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
21 June 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 22 Jun. 2026.
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