1
as in interpretations
a statement that makes something clear
an explanation of photosynthesis that most museum visitors will be able to understand
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in reasons
a statement given to explain a belief or act
when questioned by authorities, the students were at a loss for an explanation for their senseless vandalism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of explanations
Some explanations of bodily difference were obviously wrong, such as physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush’s conviction that the dark skin of African Americans was a disease, derived from leprosy.
—
Katherine Ott,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
The Mass, rich in velvet and gold-trimmed vestments, chanting and incense, was livestreamed on the society’s YouTube channel, with simultaneous explanations in several languages.
—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The executives who absorbed the Freakonomics ethos learned to separate correlation from causation and to entertain alternative explanations before settling on the most convenient one.
—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Doyle allegedly pocketed most of the proceeds while feeding Matthiesen a string of false explanations about why payment had never arrived.
—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
29 June 2026
Because of the quick succession of Wednesday’s quakes, Hubbard said confirming there were two earthquakes could be difficult with the preliminary data — and there are other possible explanations for what scientists see on seismographs currently.
—
Kasha Patel,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Without literal explanations, readers must pay close attention to Smith’s artwork in each panel to follow Weapon X’s story.
—
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
The repo man’s job is not to accept the handoff of a phone, or to engage explanations.
—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
While several possible explanations for the Galactic Center Excess have been put forward, including a population of rapidly spinning neutron stars called pulsars, one of the most prevalent has been a specific type of dark matter particle.
—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 June 2026
Katherine Ott,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
The Mass, rich in velvet and gold-trimmed vestments, chanting and incense, was livestreamed on the society’s YouTube channel, with simultaneous explanations in several languages.
—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The executives who absorbed the Freakonomics ethos learned to separate correlation from causation and to entertain alternative explanations before settling on the most convenient one.
—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Doyle allegedly pocketed most of the proceeds while feeding Matthiesen a string of false explanations about why payment had never arrived.
—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
29 June 2026
Because of the quick succession of Wednesday’s quakes, Hubbard said confirming there were two earthquakes could be difficult with the preliminary data — and there are other possible explanations for what scientists see on seismographs currently.
—
Kasha Patel,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Without literal explanations, readers must pay close attention to Smith’s artwork in each panel to follow Weapon X’s story.
—
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
The repo man’s job is not to accept the handoff of a phone, or to engage explanations.
—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
While several possible explanations for the Galactic Center Excess have been put forward, including a population of rapidly spinning neutron stars called pulsars, one of the most prevalent has been a specific type of dark matter particle.
—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explanations
Noun
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Teams leave with different interpretations, unclear priorities and competing assumptions about what matters most.
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There are family recipes, alongside modern interpretations of Thai food.
Noun
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Both Kurtz and Langeliers cited workload and the need for rest during the long Major League Baseball season as reasons for their lack of interest.
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Many areas have been exempted for a variety of reasons, including lots in hillside fire zones and lots in Historic Protection Overlay Zones.
Noun
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The South Beach school’s 1975-‘76 yearbook was a patriotic red, white and blue and illustrations of the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell and the American Eagle.
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Schematics, facility maps, aerial photographs, engineering drawings, cutaway illustrations, and previously unfamiliar archival images reveal the extraordinary complexity of the undertaking.
Noun
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Trump had campaigned on restricting birthright citizenship, arguing that the citizenship clause had been misinterpreted, and attended the April 2026 oral arguments in a first for a sitting president.
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Now, after oral arguments in January, the laws will be protected.
Noun
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Finally, Corbin has to apologize to Kenzie and KC has to apologize to Aniya — deciding which of these apologies goes better depends on your point of view.
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In court, Donaldson claimed that those apologies referenced not abuse, but unrelated matters.
Noun
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What was the breakdown for and against and what justifications did the majority give for its decision?
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Its role is to expose wrongdoing, illuminate facts, and draw the world’s attention to crimes committed in the name of false causes and manufactured justifications.
Cite this Entry
“Explanations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explanations. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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