A child who has just learned to talk will badger his parents with "whys" and "whats".
Source: tatoeba (35456)
Whats
Synonyms for "whats" (10 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: explanation request, huh, really, what, what has.
- Sentence evidence is available for whats, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss.
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 "whats".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "whats"
Keep "whats" 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 "whats" 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 "whats", 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 "whats" 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
5 entriesMore specific
7 entriesclarification exclamationcolloquial contractiondisbelief exclamationinstructional exclamationinterrogative contractioninterrogative pronounsurprise exclamation
Collocations
18 entrieswhat4s going onwhat4s thatwhat4s the matterwhat4s upwhat aboutwhat causeswhat datawhat definitionwhat evidencewhat factorswhat forwhat haswhat ifwhat iswhat is itwhat is this
Showing 16 of 18 words.
Derivations
3 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
He is pretending that he doesnt know us whats up with him?
Source: tatoeba (12587323)
Whats up with you? Didnt I tell yesterday?
Source: tatoeba (12587356)
Whats the name of this style?
Source: tatoeba (13219477)
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "whats"?
Closest matches include explanation request, huh, really, what, what has.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "whats"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.