why Synonyms
Another word for why
• adverb (Context 1)
For what reason, cause, or purpose (used to introduce a direct or indirect question).
"how come did the committee decide to postpone the conference until autumn?"
• conjunction (Context 2)
The reason, cause, or purpose for which.
"She explained clearly wherefore the experimental results needed further verification."
• adverb (Context 3)
For which; on account of which (used as a relative adverb to refer to a reason or cause just mentioned).
"A sudden power outage is the primary reason wherefore the servers went offline."
• interjection (Context 4)
Used to express mild surprise, hesitation, impatience, realization, or emphatic agreement.
"well, I had no idea you were already acquainted with the visiting professor!"
• noun (Context 5)
A reason, cause, or explanation for something, or an inquiry into an underlying motive.
"The historians spent decades debating the whys and wherefores of the treaty's collapse."
Opposites of why
The opposite of why shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: