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Reason

v. thoughtful, capable professional

What it means

Meaning 1

To think through facts and relationships in order to reach a conclusion.

Reach for it when praising a careful mental process rather than a quick opinion

The students reasoned from the measurements before choosing a material.

Meaning 2

To persuade or discuss by offering reasons.

Reach for it when describing patient argument intended to move someone toward a conclusion

She reasoned with the anxious child until the procedure felt manageable.

Words to choose between 9

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
everyday
professional
formal

Meaning 1: To think through facts and relationships in order to reach a conclusion.

  • everyday

    think

    Fits when any mental consideration is meant

    Careful Thinking can wander or rely on intuition without reasoning.

  • professional

    analyze

    Fits when breaking evidence into parts is central

    Careful Analysis can stop before a conclusion is reached.

  • professional

    deduce

    Fits when a conclusion follows from stated premises

    Careful Deduction is narrower and does not cover inductive judgment.

  • professional

    infer

    Fits when evidence supports a likely conclusion

    Careful Inference may be quick and need not show a full reasoning process.

  • formal

    deliberate

    Fits when weighing options carefully over time matters

    Careful Deliberation concerns choice and may not establish logical validity.

Meaning 2: To persuade or discuss by offering reasons.

  • everyday

    explain

    Fits when making the grounds understandable is enough

    Careful Explanation need not ask the listener to change course.

  • professional

    argue

    Fits when presenting a supported case is intended

    Careful Argue can sound combative and may harden a gentle exchange.

  • professional

    persuade

    Fits when changing another person's view is the aim

    Careful Persuasion may use emotion or authority instead of reasons.

  • formal

    remonstrate

    Fits when earnest objection through reasons fits the context

    Careful Remonstrate is confrontational and too rare for ordinary guidance.

Opposites 4

  • guess
  • misjudge
  • coerce
  • confuse

Common phrases 3

  • reason carefully

    The panel had to reason carefully from incomplete but consistent evidence.

  • reason from evidence

    Good investigators reason from evidence rather than reputation.

  • reason with someone

    Toma tried to reason with his friend without dismissing the fear.

Word family 2

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated