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
-
Ultimately, the court decided that given the circumstances, and if the Frenches were flying there to personally manage their condo, the expense was reasonable and therefore, tax deductible.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The nitrogen fixed by legumes is not readily available until the bean or pea crop dies and therefore benefits the crop planted after beans or peas.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The iconic act is one of the many reasons fans are flocking to the Voltaire inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas to watch the vedette's second residency.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
-
While the free shipping perks of Amazon Prime remain the biggest reason for why most people subscribe, the quality of content on Prime Video had increasingly become a major driver.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
27 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
That’s what’s so ironic about the relationship between these two men.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The tradeoff is a bit childish, sure, but Harry is also so ubiquitous that just about everyone knows one.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
There are times when the in-platform optimizations are taken advantage of yet there is no alignment internally between leadership and the execution teams as to the why, what and when.—
Barbara Puszkiewicz-Cimino,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
Hasbro acquired Parker Brothers, and thus took control of Monopoly, in 1991.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Still, those statistics indicate the market is far behind Nintendo, with just under 6 million units shipped compared to the 150 million Switches that have been sold thus far.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
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 10 Apr. 2025.
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