as in rational
having the ability to reason
judged by the courts not to be a reasoning being who could be held accountable for his crimes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in logic
the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems
your reasoning here is faulty, for although all wives are spouses, not all spouses are wives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in understanding
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
2
as in arguing
to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration
he tried to reason that no one in their right mind would buy his brother's old video games, but they were put on the online auction anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reasoning
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
2 July 2026
By that reasoning, no NFL team could win a Super Bowl with a Black quarterback, Black head coach and Black general manager.
—
Bobby Burack Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Initially working out of a facility in the industrial section of Seattle, Stephenson gathered a group of like minds to brainstorm new methods for reaching space, reasoning that chemical rockets had not much improved in the decades since their debut.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reasoning
Noun
Meanwhile, Meta is still trying to get its Muse Spark, a multimodal reasoning model, off the ground.
—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
2 July 2026
By that reasoning, no NFL team could win a Super Bowl with a Black quarterback, Black head coach and Black general manager.
—
Bobby Burack Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
Verb
Altman even senses that some employers are hiding behind AI when reasoning their workforce layoffs.
—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Initially working out of a facility in the industrial section of Seattle, Stephenson gathered a group of like minds to brainstorm new methods for reaching space, reasoning that chemical rockets had not much improved in the decades since their debut.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reasoning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reasoning
Adjective
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The value equation was rational, transactional and easy to understand.
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Perhaps there was a rational explanation for the man outside her apartment.
Noun
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Webber questioned Kehoe’s logic in choosing to cut certain programs and projects while leaving funding for others intact, including $21 million for road improvements near the site of the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia.
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In an industry shaped by scarcity logic, mentorship has often been inconsistent, informal, or entirely absent.
Verb
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Those worries make sense, and understanding how bird flu spreads and what to watch for is the best way to protect your flock and yourself.
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Why The Old Approach No Longer Works The old playbook assumed that cultural knowledge was scarce, international interactions were occasional, and understanding national norms was the primary challenge.
Verb
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In 2022, Kroger announced a plan to merge with rival Albertsons, arguing that a larger chain would be better able to compete against rivals.
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The Department of Justice on Thursday declined to turn over additional information from the Epstein files as ordered by a judge, arguing the materials include sensitive victim information or were appropriately redacted as required by law.
Adjective
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The robot staff behind the scenes Pudu's FlashBot will run an intelligent vending system, allowing guests to order drink deliveries by smartphone.
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His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous.
Noun
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But this also is among the reasons her books are considered must-reads in the classroom, and contemporary classics.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines in 2025 for a number of reasons.
Verb
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Adoring the outcome means deriving joy from seeing the success of others.
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But deriving a unified theory of volcanism will require a geologic Manhattan Project.
Verb
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Critics also have challenged the report’s characterization of cases involving women, contending these were consensual affairs that were sinful but not abusive.
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In the special, Arcuri tackles topics like marital pranks and urinal mind games while contending, on the more serious side, with his wife Katie Thurston’s cancer journey.
Cite this Entry
“Reasoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reasoning. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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