1
as in explanations
a statement given to explain a belief or act
she gave a good reason for her seemingly suspicious behavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in motives
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
3
as in excuses
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
what reason do you have for being in such a bad mood?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in causes
someone or something responsible for a result
what's the meteorological reason for tornadoes?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in derives
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 argues
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 reasons
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
One of the primary reasons that some car buyers avoid vehicles with electric powertrains is the lengthy duration of charging sessions.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
One of the reasons behind the velocity jump is the latest example of the growth by the 27-year-old left-hander who has been in the organization for a decade.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Governments had promoted cleaner fuels like LPG for health and conservation reasons, but rising costs are undermining those gains.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Professional golfers constantly tinker with equipment and jump from one club manufacturer to another throughout their careers, but Rose mixing it up comes across as a very strange move for a number of different reasons.
—Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
One officer was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Many people reported being towed for small reasons, like being parked over the line.
—Ginny Monk, ProPublica, 27 Apr. 2026
Cramer laid out four reasons why that didn't happen.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
Of course, artists make choices in biographical shows for a whole variety of reasons, whether in service of the storytelling, to appease those who would prefer to remain anonymous or even self-protection.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
One of the primary reasons that some car buyers avoid vehicles with electric powertrains is the lengthy duration of charging sessions.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
One of the reasons behind the velocity jump is the latest example of the growth by the 27-year-old left-hander who has been in the organization for a decade.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Governments had promoted cleaner fuels like LPG for health and conservation reasons, but rising costs are undermining those gains.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Professional golfers constantly tinker with equipment and jump from one club manufacturer to another throughout their careers, but Rose mixing it up comes across as a very strange move for a number of different reasons.
—Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
One officer was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Many people reported being towed for small reasons, like being parked over the line.
—Ginny Monk, ProPublica, 27 Apr. 2026
Cramer laid out four reasons why that didn't happen.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
The system reasons underneath, processing infinitely complex 3D scenarios, handling trade clashes, regulations and tradeoffs - learning from user feedback over time to eliminate the need for users to supervise its intelligence.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reasons
Noun
-
Advertisement Allen also looked to provide explanations for his absence to his friends and students before leaving California on his journey, describing it as a personal emergency, officials told the New York Times.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Trust in the county is low after months of complaints about communications and explanations for delays.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her motives were really very sincere.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
But despite the parity, parents’ motives and methods often vary.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Venus and Saturn make this full moon the right time to finally take a look at your figures without excuses.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Yet both Piker and Tolentino move from discussing nonlethal crimes of nuisance and destruction to making excuses for murder.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the underlying causes — including substance use, domestic violence, mental illness, chronic stress, poverty and social interaction — are often intertwined.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
For liberals who see Labour as too soft on progressive causes, the Green Party is a popular new route that aims to deliver on unemployment for young people and increase public funding for health care.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The name Business Wire likely derives from the terms news wires or wire services, which recall the mid-19th-century method of dispatching news via telegraph, sending electrical signals via wire across great distances.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Destined to delight Herzog fans for its offbeat ruminations on the evolution of creativity, the movie also derives ample philosophical weight from the sheer beauty and inherent mystery of the subject at hand.—
Eric Kohn,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth argues the 60-day war limit is paused amid the ongoing ceasefire.—
May 1,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
The Iranian American actor argues the long-standing persecution of the Baha’is in Iran has only escalated with the current Middle East tensions.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
During closing arguments, Lynn Johnson, an attorney for Christine and Christopher Nolte, suggested the jury award $10 million for noneconomic damages and $5 million for economic damages.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
-
But this foundation of modern math has inspired fierce arguments since it was first proposed.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Grove said the agency’s justifications for consolidating offices in Salt Lake City, Utah, don’t make sense.—
Karl Hille,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The numbers and justifications don’t add up.—
Kristen Monsell,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reasons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reasons. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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