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

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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
  • There is no longer a reason to build in room for a counter that may never come.
    — Chris Ryan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • And the reasons may be rooted as much in Southerners’ attitudes about being overweight as in their diets and exercise patterns.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Who the actress is playing has been kept a total mystery, a rarity for the type of movie that often advertises its villains as much as its heroes.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • The exact cause of burl formation is a mystery, but these growths are formed by abnormal cell proliferation by the xylem.
    — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
Definition of mystery
Interjection
  • State the scope, name the cost, and let the answer be yes or no.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026
  • As far as telling him, ‘Do this with umpires, don’t do this with umpires,’ no, no.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of no
Noun
  • Washington supplies the last motive, with CNBC framing the alliance as the sector's pushback against efforts to curb Chinese models.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • The governor's office hasn't responded to a request for comment from USA TODAY about the allegations of political motives.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of motive
Interjection
  • But, hey, there’s always the possibility that AI might steal their job before any of that happens.
    — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
  • But hey, YouTube and a cruddy degradation stream can rock too.
    — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 17 July 2026
Definition of hey
Noun
  • Beauty, wellness and fitness became early proving grounds because their products naturally fit into creators’ everyday content.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 24 July 2026
  • The house, built in 1999, has become one of the show’s most recognizable filming locations, thanks to its expansive grounds and grand interiors.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 July 2026
Definition of grounds
Interjection
  • Cryptographically verifiable metadata can prove all that comparatively scarce real content is, well, real.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026
  • Everyone’s favorite ineligible quarterback is back — well, almost.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Definition of well

Browse Nearby Words

whups
why
whys
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Cite this Entry

“Why.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/why. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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