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
  • Salesforce and other software stocks have perked up over the past month, as sentiment around the group improved for a couple of reasons, including a Reuters report on take-private talks involving HR software provider Workday .
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • At face value, young men exercising should not be reason to sound the alarms, and yet there is something treacherous about men in their formative years placing physical beauty as the ultimate expression of self-actualization.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of reason
Noun
  • The mystery at receiver is which inexperienced player will crack the rotation first after Greathouse, Jordan Faison and Mylan Graham.
    — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Now, persistent drought has again driven Lake Mead’s water levels to a new historic low this month, drawing back hundreds of miles of shoreline along the Nevada-Arizona border — and more mysteries have already started to surface.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of mystery
Interjection
  • Of course, the answer to all of the above questions is definitely no.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • But, why would one school say 'no' to something that opponents could easily take advantage of as well?
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of no
Noun
  • Police have not released a motive for the attacks, or the identities of the suspect and victims.
    — Maddie White, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Then Front Office Sports wants documentation, competing sources and a discussion about our motives.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of motive
Interjection
  • And hey, if the superstar was feeling a little low, what better pick-me-up than karaoke with Chrissie Hynde or a heart-to-heart in the ladies’ with ennui expert Lena Dunham?
    — Ben Jureidini, Vanity Fair, 15 Aug. 2026
  • And hey, brands like Jif, Rao's, and Barilla are classics for a reason—they're good.
    — Editors of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hey
Noun
  • Works by major international artists (Tschabalala Self, Francesco Clemente, Chantal Joffe) sit alongside Greek artists (Vasilis Papageorgiou, Kostas Paniaras, Sofia Mitsola) and commissions created on site, scattered through the hotel and grounds.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The students and their attorneys appeared in federal court on Wednesday for a hearing in their lawsuit challenging FIU's actions on First Amendment grounds.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of grounds
Interjection
  • That was a concept that came from one of our artists in the region who said, OK, well, if there’s been centuries of battles between an evil jinn faction and humanity, perhaps some pieces of them would still remain in the world?
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Season five focuses on the calm before the storm — well, as calm as MomTok can be.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 26 Aug. 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 28 Aug. 2026.

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