EXPLAINING Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

explaining

verb

present participle of explain

as in clarifying

to make plain or understandable a pamphlet that explains the medical procedure in language that any layperson can understand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in justifying

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 explaining Before explaining what the technology can do, understand what the customer is trying to accomplish. — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 In the Situational Awareness fund move, Griffin sent investors a letter explaining Citadel’s stock actions with the AI company. — Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Johnson has previously cited those laws in explaining why prosecutors did not continue to pursue murder charges against Miller and Young. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 For now, it’s not expected to turn into a major storm, but the National Hurricane Center issued a statement explaining the coincidence just in case. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026 Ullom continued, explaining that liminal horror films give audiences a temporary excuse to detach from an online world that can be difficult to make sense of. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026 Immigration judges traditionally take cases one by one from dockets of a few dozen, explaining the cases against people. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026 In a social media post from the Olmsted Network, Harlow is quoted explaining what inspired him to use Olmsted's name for his shoes. — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026 Lanterns wastes little time explaining this backstory ad nauseam and instead creates an immediately inviting dynamic between him and Hal, who comes to him demanding information on Manhunters. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explaining

Verb

Ask a clarifying question, keep your response simple, and save the deeper processing for a space that actually feels safe.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
David Krumholtz is clarifying his comments on stepping back from acting.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of clarifying

Verb

Former grand mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, an Assad loyalist who was vocally in support of the government's policies, was convicted of inciting violence and justifying murder.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
The second, less visible but arguably more consequential, is that the capability gap justifying dependence on closed frontier labs has nearly disappeared.

— Pawel Rzeszucinski, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifying

Verb

But Wright’s case is also illustrating why the NCAA’s argument about amateurism is becoming harder to square with the economics of the modern college engine.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
In recent years, Unite Here Local 11 has filed numerous complaints over the Inglewood facility, claiming various wage and health issues, illustrating a bitter battle over movement at the bargaining table.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of illustrating

Verb

The offense was bad Saturday, and there’s no spin or rationalizing the performance.

— Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Is there still unfinished business in rationalizing the excesses of the semiconductor surge, which formed the core of the momentum-stock frenzy?

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of rationalizing

Verb

The next milestone will be moving beyond individual production lines and demonstrating that waste plastic-to-SAF systems can operate reliably, economically and at a scale to become a meaningful source of aviation fuel.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
McKenzie Wilson of Blue Rose Research, a Democratic data firm, said voters have called for sweeping changes in response to economic discontent, demonstrating a level of anger not seen in years.

— Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of demonstrating

Verb

The gross margin outlook was a bit lower than expected, with Kress attributing the crunch to the relentless rise in memory prices, both for the remainder of this fiscal year and for fiscal 2028.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
What is most challenging is to resist attributing to AI, through language alone, properties that the evidence has not yet established.

— Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of attributing

Verb

Most manufacturers’ lineups use a mix of either carbon fiber and aluminum because those two materials can be made into the exact same shape, simplifying manufacturing.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
The process begins with simplifying an image, almost like creating a painter’s palette.

— Jonel Juste, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of simplifying

Verb

This includes interpreting standing rules and precedents, advising on the wording of motions, helping formulate statements, and answering parliamentary inquiries or points of order.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Pitch-reading is far from an exact science, and plenty of highly experienced, intelligent players and pundits are completely in the dark about interpreting a 22-yard section of grass.

— Ben Jones Aug. 26, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026