EXPLAINS Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

explains

verb

present tense third-person singular of explain

as in illustrates

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 justifies

to give the reason for or cause of can you explain your very odd behavior at the wedding reception?

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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 explains On average, the same place experiences totality only once every 300 to 400 years, which explains why they’re often described as once-in-a-lifetime events. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 In Meridian, that’s a motorcycle In Meridian, officials are confident that Idaho law already has a section that explains the rules for e-motorcycles, the increasingly popular devices that can in some cases get up to 80 mph. — Rose Evans august 4, Idaho Statesman, 4 Aug. 2026 The facilities have absolutely everything — which explains their popularity. — Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Blooming from early summer through to fall, their bright blooms are a favorite with bees and butterflies, bringing in these beneficial pollinators to your garden, Bradley explains. — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 3 Aug. 2026 The doting mom explains that Vincent’s middle name, John, follows the previous trend with their other kids. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 There are a lot of caveats that education reporter Martha Dalton explains neatly for us. — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 22 July 2026 The clever part is the phase-control system, which CorPower calls WaveSpring, and which explains the heart comparison. — New Atlas, 21 July 2026 After decades of traveling across Spain, one expert explains why Asturias stands out for its authenticity, protected landscapes, and exceptional local cuisine. — Nigel Hack, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for explains

Verb

The Howard episode dramatically illustrates two seemingly contradictory facts about the 10 private and 10 public schools honored on Forbes’ first-ever ranking of America’s Top HBCUs.

— Asia Alexander, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
The backtracking illustrates how the politics of criminal justice have shifted since 2020, posing dilemmas for Democrats’ midterm strategy and their ability to enact their preferred solutions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026

Definition of illustrates

Verb

Microsoft’s stock climbed close to 15% after its earnings, which Cohan attributes to revenue growth that justifies its AI infrastructure spending and is bringing it more business.

— Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
For companies looking to recover duties already paid, Sharad said the first step is determining who served as the importer of record and whether the potential refund justifies the administrative effort.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifies

Verb

The article clarifies that prohibiting a bonnet, a private hair covering, differs fundamentally from discriminating against natural Black hair.

— Tee Wilson, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Despite Shai saying that Ava and Rowan encouraged him to tell Hudson about Ariana and Liam, Ava clarifies that that never happened.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 30 July 2026

Definition of clarifies

Verb

But since neo-Brandeisian thought rejects economics as a pseudo-science that rationalizes the desires of capital owners, that objection carries little weight.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
But as another voter rationalizes, the sheer size of the ballot will do more harm than good in the long run.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026

Definition of rationalizes

Verb

There’s another comparison between Homer and the Bible that demonstrates parallels between Jesus and Odysseus while asserting Jesus’ superiority,MacDonald says.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Through her writing, Bowser demonstrates her commitment to illuminating the untold, challenging perspectives and igniting conversations that resonate beyond the headlines.

— Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of demonstrates

Verb

The platform also simplifies the deployment of geoscience applications, allowing exploration teams spread across multiple locations to access the same computing environment without building specialized IT infrastructure.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
From Apps to an Agentic Operating System One of DroiClaw’s defining goals is to create an app-free, agentic OS that simplifies how people interact with their devices.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 July 2026