1
as in explanation
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 motive
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 excuse
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 cause
someone or something responsible for a result
what's the meteorological reason for tornadoes?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in sense
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems
you'll need to use all of your reason to get out of this tight spot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in mind
the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities
was afraid that with all the stress he was under, he'd lose all reason
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in reasoning
the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems
in a time of national crisis we need to listen to the voice of reason
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to understand
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 to argue
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
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 reason
Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Oppo Reno 12 Pro for £395: There are a couple of reasons to consider the Reno 12 Pro: the camera and the battery life.
—Simon Hill, Wired News, 27 Mar. 2025
Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
Sunflower seed butter, developers reasoned, would be a profitable use for a domestic crop while serving as an allergen-free alternative to peanut butter.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reason
Noun
The actor walked away from the show (and a lucrative contract) after five seasons for a number of reasons.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Oppo Reno 12 Pro for £395: There are a couple of reasons to consider the Reno 12 Pro: the camera and the battery life.
—Simon Hill, Wired News, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
Republicans were ready to blame them for a shutdown, reasoning that the bill had passed the House and had majority support in the Senate.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
Sunflower seed butter, developers reasoned, would be a profitable use for a domestic crop while serving as an allergen-free alternative to peanut butter.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reason
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reason
Noun
-
The most likely explanation for the shooting involves Gaitok versus the thieves.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Melissa says Shauna creates drama and there’s an explanation for all of the things that have been happening to her.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
In a letter distributed by the Shin Bet, Bar dismissed the claim and said the motives behind his firing were baseless.—
Rachel Wolf,
Fox News,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Deputies did not say whether Rosario and Covarrubias knew each other or provide a motive for the unprovoked assault.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacramento Bee,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Luckily, Rag & Bone’s hidden sale on Gilt, a low-key site with discounts on designer finds, is a great excuse to start a spring closet cleanout.—
Melony Forcier,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Now, with all this money invested in his side of the ball — with more to come in the draft — the reasonable excuses will vanish.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
While his cause of death was not immediately announced, Parton's post said that he would be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The cause of the capsizing is under investigation, the Coast Guard said.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The 1960s ushered in debates about the constitutionality of the federal death penalty, due, in part, to a postwar sense of moral superiority.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2025
-
For one, there’s often an initial intoxicating sense of familiarity that quickly devolves into chaos and drama, something akin to love-at-first-sight that suddenly shifts into leave-me-alone.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The caverns of the mind and spirit are appealing as Neptune moves into Aries.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2025
-
That’s one thing that comes to mind, the folks whose daily lives are being impacted by transportation.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Rather than learning general principles about online media, civic online reasoning teaches students specific skills for evaluating information about politics and social issues.—
Lightning Jay,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Google also updated its Gemini models with more reasoning capabilities late last year, and Anthropic introduced a hybrid reasoning model called Claude 3.7 Sonnet in February.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Hold up three fingers in the series' famous salute and it's understood as a sign of solidarity in the face of adversity.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
-
However, some of the following need to be considered to keep therapy ethical for all, regardless of the length of sessions: Clear Scope & Limitations: Clients must understand that micro-therapy is not a substitute for traditional therapy, particularly for deep trauma work.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reason.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reason. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share