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
-
Sinner was therefore allowed to play without his positive tests becoming public, per the tennis anti-doping regulations set out by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Yes, seed oils are more prone to oxidation (and, therefore, degradation and loss of nutritional value) than beef tallow or butter, says Berry.—
Lisa Niven-Phillips,
Vogue,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The pad thai, a classic for a reason, was super spot on and comforting, served in a giant portion — enough for lunch the next day, too.—
Meira Gebel,
Axios,
8 Apr. 2025
-
American whiskey is flying off of the shelves in Canada, although surely not for the reason American whiskey makers would like.—
Made by History,
Time,
8 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Shoulder pads are in for fall 2025 and so are other details that read unabashedly, authentically bold instead of being chained to the incessant trend cycle.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
At some point in the not-so-far-off future, quantum computers will become powerful enough to easily crack many forms of digital encryption.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The why: Has top-of-rotation skills and potential, is healthy and — unlike most other starters — won’t be subject to much in the way of workload restrictions.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
To recap 2025 thus far: Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 opened to a poor $43 million at the global box office on a $118 million budget.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Hasbro acquired Parker Brothers, and thus took control of Monopoly, in 1991.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Investigators have not released suspect information or disclosed a possible motive.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The President’s motive was to attack virtually every leading law firm that has represented or hired those who challenged the President’s actions in court.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wherefore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherefore. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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