Explain and Say

Explain

Explain verb - To make plain or understandable.

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Say and explain are semantically related in utter topic. In some cases you can use "Say" instead a verb "Explain", when it comes to topics like contention.

Nearby Words: explanation, explained, explaining, explicable, explainable

Say

Say verb - To express (a thought or emotion) in words.

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Synonyms for Say

Antonyms for Say

Explain and say are semantically related in utter topic. Sometimes you can use "Explain" instead a verb "Say", if it concerns topics such as contention.

Nearby Word: saying

Mutual synonyms

Related pairs

Common collocations

part	explain part	say part
name	explain name	say name
stuff	explain stuff	say stuff
death	explain death	say death
Other words: time, way, bit, times.

Both words in one sentence

While he was with the protagonist's mother, his father died and he was called back, giving him no time to explain or say good-bye.

Source: Daddy Had a Good Reason for Abandoning You
On impulse, he quickly starts to say he can explain before realizing that he can't explain.

Source: I Can Explain
They explain that Tom wanted them to say fuck, but he wanted them to say it with him.

Source: Music / blink-182

More sentences

Cite this Source

Say and Explain. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain/say

Explain & Say. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain/say>.

Say or Explain. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/explain/say.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "explain" and "say" have occurred on timeline