Synonyms for WHY
ʰwaɪ, waɪwhy

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.7 / 3 votes

1. whynoun

   Synonyms:
   wherefore, how come

2. whyinterjection

   Exclamation of mild surprise.

   Why, I think it would work fine!

   Synonyms:
   wherefore, how come

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.7 / 3 votes

1. why, whereforenoun

   the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'

   Synonyms:
   why, wherefore

Matched Categories

1. • Reason

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:2.0 / 2 votes

1. whyadjective

   Synonyms:
   wherefore, for what cause or reason, on what account

2. whyadjective

   Synonyms:
   for what purpose

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "why":

   -why, pourquoi, how, therefore, reasons, reason

Suggested Resources

1. WHY

   What does WHY stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the WHY acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

How to pronounce WHY?

How to say WHY in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use WHY in a sentence?

1. John Hannah:

   While elements of the Iraqi Army have gradually been able to evict ISIS from Iraq's smaller towns and cities, the challenge of liberating Mosul was of a whole different order of magnitude, it’s a vast metropolis that had millions of inhabitants, enormous sectarian and ethnic complexity, and was the historical bastion of Sunni [ Muslim ] revanchism in Iraq. The fight was always going to be toughest in Mosul, which is why it was left for last.

2. Adrian Vanzyl:

   There is plenty of capital available ... and Indonesia is exploding on every possible level, why are things growing less fast than they can? The answer is talent shortage. That is the number one factor.

3. Dom Helder Camara:

   When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.

4. Jemma Falkenmire:

   In Australia, up until about 1967, there were literally thousands of babies dying each year. Doctors didn’t know why, and it was awful, women were having numerous miscarriages, and babies were being born with brain damage.

5. Joe Biden:

   That's not a debate. I understand why it has to be that way, but I'm looking forward to getting to a place where we can actually exchange ideas.