reason 1 of 2

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as in explanation
a statement given to explain a belief or act she gave a good reason for her seemingly suspicious behavior

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2
as in motive
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing a firm belief that we are here on earth to help others is the reason for her tireless volunteer work

Synonyms & Similar Words

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reason

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to understand
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information she reasoned that since all of the cakes were on sale for the same price, she might as well pick the biggest one

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word reason different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of reason are cogitate, deliberate, reflect, speculate, and think. While all these words mean "to use one's powers of conception, judgment, or inference," reason stresses consecutive logical thinking.

able to reason brilliantly in debate

When is it sensible to use cogitate instead of reason?

The meanings of cogitate and reason largely overlap; however, cogitate implies deep or intent thinking.

cogitated on the mysteries of nature

Where would deliberate be a reasonable alternative to reason?

The synonyms deliberate and reason are sometimes interchangeable, but deliberate suggests slow or careful reasoning before forming an opinion or reaching a conclusion or decision.

the jury deliberated for five hours

When is reflect a more appropriate choice than reason?

The words reflect and reason can be used in similar contexts, but reflect suggests unhurried consideration of something recalled to the mind.

reflecting on fifty years of married life

When can speculate be used instead of reason?

The words speculate and reason are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, speculate implies reasoning about things theoretical or problematic.

speculated on the fate of the lost explorers

When would think be a good substitute for reason?

Although the words think and reason have much in common, think is general and may apply to any mental activity, but used alone often suggests attainment of clear ideas or conclusions.

teaches students how to think

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 reason
Noun
In the film, Louis-Dreyfus’ villainous character has positioned a number of MCU loners and rejects to kill each other for her own nefarious reasons. Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2025 The National Institute of Standards and Technology would lose $350 million for similar reasons. John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
Verb
First, by issuing reasoned, carefully argued decisions that hold the executive to account for flouting legal norms, courts can help buy time for the public and the private sector and inform them how to confront a changing presidency. Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2025 Sentence specific The accuracy of citations has a lot to do with whether the AI model is reasoning about information at the sentence level rather than paragraph or document level. Manas Gaur, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reason
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reason
Noun
  • There are two competing explanations for why this happens.
    Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
  • There might be an explanation behind this recent tendency, though: Barca players are exhausted, and some are injured.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • The motive is obvious: give third-year quarterback Bryce Young as many weapons as possible while hoping the 2023 No. 1 pick continues to revive his career after an awful rookie season and last year’s benching.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • His assailant ran off and a motive for the attack still isn’t clear as police continue searching for the suspect.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • And certainly, the Tampa Bay Rays aren’t making any excuses.
    Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • And with screeners, virtual Q&As and digital forms readily available, there’s really no excuse to leave everything until the last minute.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • At this time, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it has yet to be determined.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Yes, a little more offence would have helped the Leafs’ cause.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Traveling the world to exotic destinations can be filled with excitement along with a sense of wonder and discovery.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • All the Gemstones’ senses of grandeur are stunning and don’t quite match up to what’s happening.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • As Prima stood in the hallway speaking to Ruth, her mind moved over the contours of the previous year and reviewed the evidence.
    Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
  • In their minds, the miracle cure gets worse odds than lighting striking you while a meteor lands on your head.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • The stakes are too high for systems that lack real-time reasoning and full contextual comprehension.
    Tarun Eldho Alias, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • That’s because the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes feelings, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning and self-control, may fall out of sync under these conditions.
    Nathalie Alonso, AFAR Media, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Long train trips were designed for those who understand the old adage of appreciating the journey, not just the destination.
    Ellen Carpenter, AFAR Media, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Dave [Watson] and his team have worked hard to understand the reasons for this disconnect and have identified two primary causes.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reason.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reason. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

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