Thanks for your explanation.
Source: tatoeba (1403)
Explanation
/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/
Synonyms for "explanation" (296 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (60)
Noun(31 words)
abductionaccountaccount for individual differencesalibisalternativeamendment intentanalysesannotationannotation for wateranswer questionsanswersattributionbiology term definitioncausacausal mechanismcause of unbalancechange of planschemistry demonstrationcircumstanceclaim denial
Show 11 more words
clarificationclarificationsclarifyingclassroom explanationclear explanationcommentcommunicatingcomprehensioncontextualizationcosmology conceptdata interpretations
Adjective(5 words)
basic teaching conceptbiological explanationcausal basisconversational repaircultural interpretation
Verb(2 words)
clarify the issueclear up confusion
Strong matches (88)
Noun(32 words)
debriefingdefensedefiningdefinitionsdescriptive text without numbersdiscussionelucidationelucidationsenlightenerevidencing reasoningexcusesexplain verbexplainingexplanansexplanation paragraphexplicationexplicationsexpoexpositionsfeature presentation
Show 12 more words
fein artikulierenforcefully presentedgenetics demonstrationsgeological process mechanismgerman artikulierenglossgloss layerglossesglossinghistorical viewinterpretationsinterpreting
Verb(9 words)
deliver contentdemonstrate a hypothesisdemonstrate conceptdemonstrate truthdemonstrate understandingelucidatingexplain causeexpose issuesinterpret language
Adjective(3 words)
dissolved solute in watergood justificationinterpretive analysis
Related words (148)
issuejustificationkeylightmeaningmere theorymotivenoteobject lessonoutcomepleapretensepretextpurgationpurgingrational groundrationalerationalizationreasonreason why
Show 53 more words
reasoningrehabilitationreinstatementrelevant instanceremarkrepresentativeresolutionresolvingrestorationresultriddlingsignificationsimplificationsolutionsolvingsorting outspeculationstated causesymboltentative explanationthe big ideathe ideathe whatforthe whereforethe whytheoretictheoretical basistheoretical structuretheoreticstheoriatheorictheorizationtheorytranslationtypetypical exampleunderlying reasonunified theoryunlockingunravelingunriddlingunscramblingunspinninguntanglinguntwistingunweavingupshotvindicationwhat forwhereforewhyworkingworking-out
Noun(57 words)
justificationjustificationsjustify the claimjustify with evidencejustifyinglegal argumentlegend for waterlegitimizinglesson explanationmargin notemath conceptmechanismmechanismsmore definingmorphology notenarrativenarrative accountnorwegian teoretiskpoetry readingpolicy interpretation
Show 37 more words
present an argumentpresent informationproof methodpropose a theoryprovide reasonspsychological theoryrationalerationalesrationalizingreasonsreplyingresolutionsrigamarolesscience fair exhibitscience ideascientific progress narrativeset forthsetting forthssheddingshows and tellssmooth oversolutionsspanish causastate clearlystatementtalk throughterm definitionthe reasonsthe theoriestheory changedtheory developmenttheory onlyunravel mysteryunravellingunsnarlingwater containing compoundwhys
Adjective(10 words)
linguistic constructlogical demonstrationnoncontact force explanationnonphysical evidenceofficial setting forthphysiological mechanismreasoned justificationstructured deliveryvague descriptionverbal interpretation
Determiner(4 words)
no causethe answerthe causethe theory
Verb(2 words)
present a medalshow your work
Adverb(1 words)
Preposition(1 words)
with no justification
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abduction, abstraction, accomplishment, account, account.
- Sentence evidence is available for explanation, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "explanation".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "explanation"
Keep "explanation" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "explanation" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "explanation", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "explanation" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriescerebrationcommunicationinformationintellectionmentationreasoningspeech actstatementthinkingthoughtthought process
More specific
6 entriesdetailed explanationeconomic explanationhistorical explanationscientific explanationsimple explanationvisual explanation
Collocations
6 entriesbrief explanationclear explanationdetailed explanationsimple explanationstep by step explanationvisual explanation
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
Your explanation won't wash; it's too improbable to be true.
Source: tatoeba (17011)
Your explanation sounds plausible, but it just doesn't hold water.
Source: tatoeba (17012)
I need a concise explanation.
Source: tatoeba (20964)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "explanation"?
Closest matches include abduction, abstraction, accomplishment, account, account.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "explanation"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.