When I looked at the explanatory notes under the posts list I realized what was causing it.
Source: tatoeba (328368)
Explanatory
/ɪkˈsplæn.ə.t(ɔː.)ɹi/
Synonyms for "explanatory" (143 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
Noun(19 words)
alibiinganalyze readingappositiveatomic modelattributable fractioncausal adjectivecausal pathwaycharacterizing individualsclarifying questionclassroom casecommentarycommentatingcontaining examplesdefiningdefining termdefinitional extensiondemonstratingdemonstration modeldemonstration rod
Adjective(5 words)
Verb(1 words)
clarifying phrasing
Strong matches (43)
Adjective(16 words)
descriptive adjectivedescriptive categorydescriptive category labeldescriptive datadescriptive featuresdescriptive lawdescriptive measuredescriptive propertydescriptive ratingdescriptive statisticsdescriptive term labeldescriptive term usagedescriptive word formdescriptive word usagedescriptive wordsexplainable
Noun(11 words)
descriptive englishdescriptive phrasedescriptive termdescriptive term categorydescriptive text without numbersdescriptive word categorydescriptive word studydisabusingdisrobingexample paragraphexplicating
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (71)
Adjective(27 words)
expository essay sampleexpository writing promptilluminatingillustrative caseillustrative dataillustrative diagramillustrative eventillustrative exampleinformationalinformational signinformational writinginformativeinstructionalinstructiveinterpreted speechinterpretive analysisinterpretive frameworksinterpretive notesliterary illustrationmath problem example
Show 7 more words
natural language reasoningpedagogical conceptpedagogical languagereasoning-basedtextual illustrationtheoretical unitworked example
Noun(30 words)
expository writing developmentexpoundingfrench descriptifglossingguiding abilityillustratinginforminginstructional exampleinterpretive panelinterpretive viewjustifyinglearning concept approachlingüístico descriptivolooking glassmodel buildingmodel think-aloudmore descriptivemore illustrativemore informationalmost pedagogical
Show 10 more words
nonfiction bookpointing wordproblem-solutionresearch artsample vialsolution sampleteaching model demonstrationtheory basedtoy-model frameworkunraveling
Verb(1 words)
perform descriptive analysis
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: alibiing, allegorizing, analyze reading, annotative, appositive.
- Sentence evidence is available for explanatory, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wiktionary, 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 "explanatory".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "explanatory"
Keep "explanatory" 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 "explanatory" 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 "explanatory", 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 "explanatory" 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
2 entriesadjectivedescriptive word
More specific
2 entriesCollocations
6 entriesexplanatory chartexplanatory diagramexplanatory noteexplanatory paragraphexplanatory textexplanatory video
Inflections
2 entriesmore explanatorymost explanatory
Derivations
4 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
Is the drawing quite explanatory?
Source: tatoeba (3361950)
Convulsion followed convulsion, till they closed in death, without her being able to utter a word explanatory of the fatal scene.
Source: tatoeba (7760884)
It's not like it's supposed to be a summary; aren't you leaving out too many explanatory details?
Source: tatoeba (11230525)
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "explanatory"?
Closest matches include alibiing, allegorizing, analyze reading, annotative, appositive.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "explanatory"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.