1
as in reasons
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing
asked the whys behind the surprising decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in mysteries
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whys
Noun
-
There are many reasons to be concerned about this particular Ebola outbreak.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026 -
Numerous Democratic officeholders raised questions about whether Colbert was axed for political reasons.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Because George, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, routinely read mysteries to his charges before his sudden demise, these sheep aren’t complete novices, said Wilson Chapman in IndieWire.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
18 May 2026
-
The axolotl is one of evolution’s greatest biological mysteries.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Denver police say investigators are still trying to learn more about Mott's motives.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
She was criticized publicly by some colleagues as well anonymous government officials who were quoted in Israeli and international media questioning her motives.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Whys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whys. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
