1
as in to clarify
to make plain or understandable
a pamphlet that explains the medical procedure in language that any layperson can understand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to justify
to give the reason for or cause of
can you explain your very odd behavior at the wedding reception?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 explain
They were approved in the fall so that students could enroll in the courses in time for the 2025-26 school year, Purcell explained at the March meeting.
—
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
And as one Redditor explained, Quito is a great option.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
This gets at a much bigger issue: This production fails to justify or explain why this is a one-person show or what is gained by this choice.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
Focus on explaining the problem your brand solves, and provide actionable solutions and clear calls to action.
—Saul Marquez, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explain
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
And as one Redditor explained, Quito is a great option.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
This gets at a much bigger issue: This production fails to justify or explain why this is a one-person show or what is gained by this choice.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
Focus on explaining the problem your brand solves, and provide actionable solutions and clear calls to action.
—Saul Marquez, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for explain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explain
Verb
-
This framework is best suited for companies needing to clarify their differentiation in a competitive space.—
Diana Khramina,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells in February asked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to clarify the law.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
High-stakes use cases might justify a premium model, while simpler tasks could be served by more affordable options.—
Roman Vorel,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
The law was originally justified as helping to ensure worker safety on the job, prior to the establishment of federal and state labor protections.—
John Faso,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Circle and OpenAI’s recent successes illustrate that blockchain and AI are now ready for robust regulatory dialogue, positioning these technologies for sustainable growth.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Renee Hale | Grapevine, Texas The article by Chris Heath about Robert Caro is beautifully done and illustrated.—
Smithsonian magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Find another scapegoat to rationalize your assault on the crown jewels of American progress — our colleges and universities that until now have attracted the best and the brightest from our country and all over the world.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Clearly the request — which must have originated in City Hall — uses the fires as a smokescreen to rationalize a bailout for a deficit that is fundamentally the result of years-long fiscal malpractice.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
After initially demonstrating resilience to the Trump administration’s tariff increases, the country’s stock markets fell off a cliff as investors returned from an extended holiday weekend.—
Yue Wang,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Data breaches are a major concern, as demonstrated in March 2023 when a bug allowed users to see others’ chat histories, highlighting vulnerabilities in AI systems.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The metrics on which companies are required to report are likely to be reduced and simplified, but regulatory compliance still remains a data challenge that requires integrated solutions.—
Sophia Mendelsohn,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
In addition to French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (simplified) being some of the languages available, Vision Pro will allow users to proofread, rewrite, and summarize text using Writing Tools.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Some, however, have interpreted the caption to relate to his SNL walk-off, though Wallen hasn't confirmed it.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Hard and soft skills are synthesized so recruiting teams can better interpret experience in things like operations, adaptability, management, risk development and even preventative medicine.—
Adam Wray,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Explain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explain. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share