What for and Why

Related terms

What for noun - A strong reprimand.

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Why and what for are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Why" instead an adverb phrase "What for".

Why interjection - How surprising, doubtful, or unbelievable.

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What for and why are semantically related. You can use "What for" instead an adverb "Why".

Cite this Source

Why and What for. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/what_for/why

What for & Why. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/what_for/why>.

Why or What for. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/what_for/why.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "what for" and "why" have occurred on timeline