| Main Entry: | why |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | reason |
Synonyms: |
cause, how, motive, mystery, proof |
| Main Entry: | conundrum |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | puzzle |
Synonyms: |
brain-teaser, closed book, enigma, mystery, mystification, poser, problem, puzzlement, riddle, why* |
| Main Entry: | enigma |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | mystery |
Synonyms: |
Gordian knot, bewilderment, cliffhanger, conundrum, crux, cryptogram, grabber, knot*, mind-boggler, mind-twister, mystification, parable, perplexity, problem, puzzle, puzzlement, puzzler, question, question mark, riddle, secret, sixty-four dollar question, sphinx, sticker, stickler, stumper, teaser, tough nut to crack, twister, why* |
| Main Entry: | grounds |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | basis, premise |
Synonyms: |
account, antecedent, argument, base, bedrock, call, cause, chapter and verse, demonstration, determinant, dope*, evidence, excuse, factor, footing, foundation, goods*, groundwork, inducement, info, information*, infrastructure, justification, motive, numbers, occasion, pretext, proof, rationale, reason, root*, seat, straight stuff, substratum, test, testimony, trial, underpinning, wherefore, why, whyfor |
| Main Entry: | mystery |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | puzzle, secret |
Synonyms: |
abstruseness, brainteaser, braintwister, charade, chiller, cliffhanger, closed book, conundrum, crux, cryptogram, difficulty, enigma, grabber, inscrutability, inscrutableness, mindboggler, mystification, occult, oracle, perplexity, poser, problem, puzzlement, question, rebus, riddle, rune, secrecy, sixty-four-thousand-dollar question, sphinx, stickler, stumper, subtlety, teaser, thriller, tough nut to crack, twister, whodunit, why* |
Antonyms: |
known, understanding |
| Main Entry: | proof |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | evidence, authentication |
Synonyms: |
affidavit, argument, attestation, averment, case, certification, chapter and verse, clincher, clue, confirmation, corroboration, credentials, criterion, cue*, data, demonstration, deposition, documents, establishment, exhibit, facts, goods*, grabber, grounds, information, lowdown, nitty-gritty, paper trail, picture, reason, reasons, record, scoop*, score*, skinny*, smoking gun, straight stuff, substantiation, testament, testimony, trace, validation, verification, warrant, wherefore, why*, whyfor, witness |
| Notes: | evidence (from Latin e- 'out' + videre 'to see') is information that helps form a conclusion; proof is factual information that verifies a conclusion |
Antonyms: |
hypothesis, theory |
| Main Entry: | reason |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | intention, aim |
Synonyms: |
antecedent, argument, basis, cause, consideration, design, determinant, end, goal, grounds, idea, impetus, incentive, inducement, motivation, motive, object, occasion, proof, purpose, rationale, root, spring, target, ulterior motive, warrant, wherefore, why, why and wherefore, whyfor |
| Main Entry: | reason |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | explanation for an action |
Synonyms: |
account, apologia, apology, argument, case, cover, defense, excuse, exposition, ground, idea, justification, notion, proof, rationale, rationalization, song and dance, sour grapes, the whole idea, vindication, whatfor, wherefore, why and wherefore, why*, whyfor |
| Main Entry: | wherefore |
| Part of Speech: | adverb |
| Definition: | for that reason |
Synonyms: |
for that cause, for what, for which reason, so accordingly, therefore, thereupon, why |
| Main Entry: | whys and wherefores |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | reasons |
Synonyms: |
causes, details, explanations, justifications, whys |