as in therefore
for this or that reason
it was getting late, and wherefore we decided to move on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing
demanded to know the whys and wherefores for the decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wherefore
Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025
But none of those 265 pages of wherefores and whereases on the sports authority website are legally binding.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
Eschewing cheap shots, McBride favors a careful, winding excavation – reaching into history for the whys and wherefores of his novels’ crowded casts, while delivering whopper stories with electric finales.
—Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Oct. 2023
Soccer, though, did not waste time wondering about the whys and wherefores.
—Ahmed Al Omran, New York Times, 13 July 2023
The political whys and wherefores are important — and might be left to another piece.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 May 2023
As in most of Tim and Eric’s sketch humor, there are few whys and wherefores.
—Austin Considine, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020
Julian Fellowes, a master writer who understands so well all the peculiarities of time and place, manners and historical significance of the whys and wherefores of his fictional inhabitants, is to be applauded.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2019
In addition to gleaning the why and wherefore behind America’s foundational document, teenage listeners will meet up with the Declaration of Independence and a roster of seminal Supreme Court decisions.
—Louis Bayard, New York Times, 28 May 2018
Adverb
The musicians, especially but not exclusively Jerry Garcia, whose death in 1995 only technically ended the Dead, prove remarkably articulate about the why and wherefore of their music and the group mind that created it.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
For one thing: we are reminded of the American purpose, our whys and wherefores.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025
But none of those 265 pages of wherefores and whereases on the sports authority website are legally binding.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
Eschewing cheap shots, McBride favors a careful, winding excavation – reaching into history for the whys and wherefores of his novels’ crowded casts, while delivering whopper stories with electric finales.
—Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Oct. 2023
Soccer, though, did not waste time wondering about the whys and wherefores.
—Ahmed Al Omran, New York Times, 13 July 2023
The political whys and wherefores are important — and might be left to another piece.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 May 2023
As in most of Tim and Eric’s sketch humor, there are few whys and wherefores.
—Austin Considine, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020
Julian Fellowes, a master writer who understands so well all the peculiarities of time and place, manners and historical significance of the whys and wherefores of his fictional inhabitants, is to be applauded.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2019
In addition to gleaning the why and wherefore behind America’s foundational document, teenage listeners will meet up with the Declaration of Independence and a roster of seminal Supreme Court decisions.
—Louis Bayard, New York Times, 28 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wherefore
Adverb
-
For some strange reason, unbeknownst to the public, the Fed (and therefore the media) choose to concentrate on the year/year CPI inflation rate.—
Robert Barone,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
The relationship between the NCAA and members is therefore voluntary and contractual.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
And both have, for different reasons, chosen to confront the very institutions and leaders that have helped sustain their growth.—
Joel Shulman,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Or maybe, for a million reasons, your recent expectations of how family life should be are not aligned with reality.—
Denise Snodell,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2025
Adverb
-
In organizations of almost any size, particularly larger organizations, collaboration is so critical to making progress.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Instead of focusing on the panels, axles, and bearings of a car, NIO first looks at the high-voltage architecture—batteries, power train, and so on—followed by the low-voltage, like digital compute.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
Build your own opportunities, document your journey, and stay rooted in your why.—
Zoya Hasan,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
The why: Dazzling September debut quickly escalated expectations that the hard-throwing lefty will become a major bullpen weapon.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
Cole is three months removed from Tommy John surgery on his elbow thus the storyline with him and Rafael Devers is on hold until next season.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
But the loudest moment inside the arena thus far was a 3-pointer by Jalen Williams that put the Thunder ahead 7-0. 6h ago / 5:39 PM PDT Share The 2025 NBA Finals are underway!—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Allows Employees To Shift Focus From Failures Gamification in the workplace can shift focus away from dwelling on failures and questioning others' motives.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
Tisch did not offer a motive for the crime, but said that preliminary investigation has turned up surveillance footage of a masked suspect, who is dressed all in black, entering the lot after hopping a fence around 12:40 a.m.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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