Best 100+ Synonyms of What: Common Words & Examples 2026

Synonyms of what are alternative words and phrases used in place of the word “what” depending on context, tone, and grammar role. The word “what” functions as an interrogative pronoun, relative pronoun, determiner, and exclamation in the English language.

Knowing the right synonyms of what helps writers, students, and speakers communicate more precisely and avoid repetition.

Whether you are writing an essay, a formal email, or casual conversation, replacing “what” with the correct synonym improves clarity and fluency. This complete guide covers 100+ synonyms of what with definitions, examples, and usage tips for 2026.

Table of Contents

Synonyms of What as an Interrogative Pronoun

When “what” is used to ask a question about something unknown, these synonyms work as the closest replacements.

Which — Used when choosing between a limited set of options. Example: Which color do you prefer?
Whatever — Used to emphasize any possible answer without restriction. Example: Whatever you decide is fine with me.
Whichever — Used when selecting from two or more defined choices. Example: Whichever option you pick will work.
What kind — Used to ask about the type or category. Example: What kind of music do you enjoy?
What sort — Similar to “what kind,” used in British English contexts. Example: What sort of problem are you facing?
What type — Used in formal and academic writing. Example: What type of analysis did you perform?
What manner — A formal or literary alternative. Example: What manner of creature is this?
Pray tell — An old-fashioned, polite substitute meaning “please tell me what.” Example: Pray tell, what is the issue here?
How so — Used when asking for clarification about a statement. Example: How so? What exactly do you mean?
In what way — A more detailed alternative when asking for explanation. Example: In what way does this affect the plan?

These synonyms of what in interrogative use keep your questions sounding fresh and varied across different styles of writing.

Synonyms of What as a Relative Pronoun

When “what” introduces a relative clause meaning “the thing that” or “that which,” these synonyms are the most accurate replacements.

That which — A formal and precise substitute. Example: That which you seek is within reach.
The thing that — A clear, direct alternative in everyday writing. Example: The thing that matters most is honesty.
The fact that — Used to introduce a known piece of information. Example: The fact that she left early surprised everyone.
That — The simplest and most common relative pronoun replacement. Example: Everything that I know, I learned here.
Which — Works when the antecedent is specific. Example: The answer, which surprised everyone, was correct.
As — Used in certain fixed phrases like “such as” or “the same as.” Example: Do as you were told.
Whatever — Carries the meaning of “anything that.” Example: Whatever happens, stay calm.
All that — Emphasizes totality. Example: All that glitters is not gold.
Anything that — Broadens the meaning to include all possibilities. Example: Anything that helps is welcome.
Everything that — Used to refer to the complete set. Example: Everything that she said was true.

Knowing these synonyms of what as a relative pronoun helps produce more sophisticated and varied sentence structures in academic and professional writing.

Synonyms of What as a Determiner

When “what” is placed before a noun to specify or exclaim about it, these synonyms serve as useful alternatives.

Which — Used before a noun when choosing between options. Example: Which book should I read?
What kind of — Expands the question to cover type. Example: What kind of answer is that?
What sort of — A British English variant. Example: What sort of behavior is this?
What type of — Used in formal and scientific contexts. Example: What type of data did you collect?
Any — Used as a broad determiner. Example: Any choice you make will be respected.
Every — Refers to all items in a group. Example: Every decision has consequences.
Each — Emphasizes individual items. Example: Each option has its own merit.
Such — Used in exclamatory sentences. Example: Such a wonderful day it is!
What a — Used for exclamatory determiner constructions. Example: What a great idea!
How — Used in exclamatory sentences as an alternative. Example: How wonderful this is!

Using these synonyms of what as a determiner helps you vary exclamatory and question-based sentences naturally and effectively.

Formal Synonyms of What for Academic and Professional Writing

When writing in academic papers, legal documents, or formal emails, replacing “what” with precise and elevated vocabulary makes a strong impression.

That which — The most classic formal substitute. Example: That which is unknown must be studied carefully.
The matter of — Used to introduce a topic formally. Example: The matter of concern was addressed.
The nature of — Focuses on the characteristics of something. Example: The nature of the problem was unclear.
The subject of — Used to indicate the topic. Example: The subject of the discussion was policy reform.
Concerning — Used to introduce what something is about. Example: Concerning your request, we have reviewed it.
Regarding — A professional synonym for introducing content. Example: Regarding what you mentioned, we agree.
As to — A formal phrase used in writing. Example: As to what happened, further investigation is required.
In terms of — Used to specify scope or category. Example: In terms of what was achieved, results were excellent.
With respect to — Highly formal synonym. Example: With respect to what was discussed, a decision was made.
On the matter of — Formal written substitute. Example: On the matter of funding, no changes were made.

These formal synonyms of what elevate your writing tone and are ideal for reports, essays, business emails, and academic work.

Informal and Conversational Synonyms of What

In casual speech and informal writing, “what” is often replaced by shorter, trendier expressions that feel more natural.

Huh — Used when asking for repetition or clarification. Example: Huh? I didn’t catch that.
Come again — Polite informal request for repetition. Example: Come again? I didn’t hear you clearly.
Say what — Casual surprised response. Example: Say what? That can’t be right!
Excuse me — Polite informal request for clarification. Example: Excuse me, what did you just say?
Pardon — Used to ask someone to repeat something. Example: Pardon? Could you repeat that?
Sorry — British informal replacement when asking for clarification. Example: Sorry, what was that?
Like what — Slang phrase asking for examples. Example: Like what? Give me an idea.
What’s that — Casual way of asking for more information. Example: What’s that? Tell me more.
How’s that — Used to ask for an explanation. Example: How’s that again? I’m confused.
Run that by me — Conversational phrase meaning “say what you mean.” Example: Run that by me again, please.

These informal synonyms of what make your spoken and casual written communication sound natural, approachable, and relatable.

Synonyms of What in Exclamatory Sentences

When “what” is used to express strong emotion or surprise, these alternatives capture the same feeling with variety.

How — Classic exclamatory substitute. Example: How beautiful this painting is!
Such — Emphasizes the quality of the noun. Example: Such a remarkable achievement!
What a — Retains the exclamatory force. Example: What a brilliant solution!
Oh — Used at the start of exclamations. Example: Oh, what a day this has been!
My goodness — Informal exclamatory phrase. Example: My goodness, what a mess!
Incredible — Direct exclamatory adjective replacement. Example: Incredible! What a performance!
Remarkable — Formal exclamatory alternative. Example: Remarkable! What they built is stunning.
Extraordinary — Strong formal substitute. Example: Extraordinary! This is beyond expectations.
Unbelievable — Casual strong exclamatory word. Example: Unbelievable! What just happened?
Astounding — Formal alternative expressing shock. Example: Astounding! What a discovery this is.

These exclamatory synonyms of what help you write more vivid and emotionally expressive sentences in creative writing and storytelling.

Synonyms of What Used in Indirect Questions

Indirect questions use “what” to embed a question inside a statement. These synonyms work well in that structure.

Whatever — Adds a sense of openness to the embedded question. Example: I will accept whatever you decide.
That which — Formal substitute in indirect questions. Example: She said that which needed to be said.
The thing which — Natural English substitute. Example: He explained the thing which confused everyone.
How — Used when the question concerns manner. Example: She showed me how it was done.
Whether — Used when the embedded question implies a choice. Example: I do not know whether this is correct.
If — Informal substitute for “whether.” Example: He asked if there was anything left.
The reason — Used to replace “what” in reason-focused indirect questions. Example: Nobody knew the reason it failed.
The way — Replaces “what” when asking about manner. Example: He described the way the process works.
Something that — Vague but natural substitute in casual indirect questions. Example: There was something that she wanted to ask.
Anything that — Broadens the scope in embedded questions. Example: Tell me anything that you know about this.

Using these synonyms of what in indirect questions helps produce smooth, natural sentences without unnecessary repetition.

Synonyms of What in Phrases and Idioms

The word “what” also appears in many common English idioms and phrases. These synonyms help replace those fixed expressions with fresh alternatives.

What for — Replaced by “why” or “for what reason.” Example: Why are you doing this? / For what reason were you late?
What if — Replaced by “suppose,” “imagine,” or “in the event that.” Example: Suppose this fails, what is the backup plan?
So what — Replaced by “why does it matter” or “what difference does it make.” Example: Why does it matter? It won’t change anything.
What about — Replaced by “regarding,” “concerning,” or “how about.” Example: How about the next steps? / Concerning the deadline?
What’s more — Replaced by “furthermore,” “moreover,” or “in addition.” Example: Furthermore, the results were positive.
Come what may — Replaced by “regardless” or “no matter what.” Example: No matter what happens, we will continue.
What’s up — Replaced by “how are things,” “how’s it going,” or “what is happening.” Example: How are things going? / How’s everything?
What’s the point — Replaced by “what is the purpose” or “why bother.” Example: What is the purpose of continuing this?
Guess what — Replaced by “you won’t believe this” or “listen to this.” Example: You won’t believe this — I got the job!
What’s done is done — Replaced by “it cannot be undone” or “that’s final.” Example: It cannot be undone, so let us move forward.

Knowing these phrase-level synonyms of what gives you the tools to replace stale idioms with more vivid and precise language in your writing.

Synonyms of What by Part of Speech

Understanding how “what” changes meaning based on its part of speech helps you select the most accurate synonym every time.

As a Pronoun:

Which
Whatever
Whichever
That which
Anything that

As a Determiner:

Which
Any
Each
Every
Such

As an Adverb (in exclamations):

How
So
Such
Quite
Rather

As a Conjunction:

That
As
Whether
If
Insofar as

Understanding these parts of speech helps you use every synonym of what with grammatical precision and confidence.

Synonyms of What for ESL Students and English Learners

For non-native English speakers, finding the right synonym of what can be confusing. These are the safest and most commonly used replacements for everyday communication.

Which — Use when you have limited choices to select from.
That — Use in relative clauses instead of “what” in formal writing.
Whatever — Use when you mean “anything at all” or “it does not matter which.”
How — Use in exclamatory sentences to show strong emotion.
The thing that — Use in everyday sentences as a clear and simple substitute.
Whether — Use when asking about two possible outcomes.
If — Use in casual or informal indirect questions.
Any — Use as a determiner when something applies to all options.
Such — Use before a noun in exclamatory and comparative sentences.
Everything that — Use to refer to the complete range of possibilities.

These easy synonyms of what are perfect for ESL learners who want to expand their vocabulary without overcomplicating their writing.

Synonyms of What for Creative Writing

Fiction writers, poets, and content creators need more dramatic and expressive alternatives to “what” to make their work come alive.

That which — Creates a poetic, elevated tone. Example: That which we love defines who we are.
What manner of — Adds a dramatic, archaic quality. Example: What manner of evil is this?
Wherefore — An old-fashioned substitute for “what for” or “why.” Example: Wherefore art thou silent?
What strange — A poetic opener for exclamatory description. Example: What strange beauty lies in these ruins.
The very thing that — Adds emphasis and emotion. Example: It was the very thing that changed everything.
The essence of — Used in poetic description. Example: She captured the essence of what it means to live.
That which I seek — Lyrical first-person structure. Example: That which I seek is beyond the horizon.
Whatsoever — Literary and emphatic. Example: There was no evidence whatsoever of foul play.
Whatever lies — Narrative opener in fiction. Example: Whatever lies beyond this door shall be revealed.
Whichever path — Used to frame a narrative choice. Example: Whichever path you take leads to the truth.

These creative synonyms of what help writers avoid repetition and give their prose a richer, more polished quality.

Synonyms of What for Different Tones and Registers

Choosing the right synonym of what also depends on the tone you want to convey. Here is a breakdown by register.

Formal / Academic:

That which
The nature of
With respect to
On the subject of
As to

Neutral / Standard:

Which
The thing that
Whatever
Whether
The fact that

Informal / Spoken:

Huh
Come again
Say what
Run that by me
What’s that

Literary / Poetic:

That which I seek
Wherefore
What manner of
Whatsoever
Whatever lies

Business / Professional:

Regarding
Concerning
In terms of
With reference to
On the matter of

Matching the synonym of what to the right tone ensures your writing always sounds appropriate for its intended audience and purpose.

Common Mistakes When Using Synonyms of What

Many writers make errors when replacing “what” with a synonym. Knowing these pitfalls keeps your writing accurate and grammatically correct.

The most common mistake is using “which” when the answer has unlimited possible options. “Which” works only when choices are limited or defined. “What” or “whatever” is more accurate for open-ended questions.

Another mistake is using “that” instead of “which” in non-restrictive clauses. Non-restrictive clauses need “which,” not “that.” For example, “The car, which I bought last year, needs a repair” is correct.

Confusing “whatever” with “whichever” is also common. Use “whatever” for open-ended choices and “whichever” when specific options are presented. These distinctions matter in both formal and everyday writing.

How Synonyms of What Improve Your Writing

Using the right synonyms of what consistently improves both your vocabulary and your writing quality. Repetitive use of “what” makes any text feel flat and unpolished.

Replacing “what” with precise alternatives like “that which,” “the nature of,” or “whatever” gives your sentences more depth and clarity. Each synonym carries a slightly different shade of meaning that can make your message more accurate.

Good writers always use a thesaurus to find the best word for every sentence. Understanding the synonyms of what is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to start writing with more confidence and skill.

Full Quick Reference List of Synonyms of What

Here is a complete reference list of the 100+ synonyms of what covered in this guide, organized for fast access.

Interrogative Synonyms:

Which
Whatever
Whichever
What kind
What sort
What type
What manner
Pray tell
How so
In what way

Relative Pronoun Synonyms:

That which
The thing that
The fact that
That
Which
As
Whatever
All that
Anything that
Everything that

Determiner Synonyms:

Which
What kind of
What sort of
What type of
Any
Every
Each
Such
What a
How

Formal Writing Synonyms:

That which
The matter of
The nature of
The subject of
Concerning
Regarding
As to
In terms of
With respect to
On the matter of

Informal and Conversational Synonyms:

Huh
Come again
Say what
Excuse me
Pardon
Sorry
Like what
What’s that
How’s that
Run that by me

Exclamatory Synonyms:

How
Such
What a
Oh
My goodness
Incredible
Remarkable
Extraordinary
Unbelievable
Astounding

Indirect Question Synonyms:

Whatever
That which
The thing which
How
Whether
If
The reason
The way
Something that
Anything that

Phrase and Idiom Synonyms:

Why (for “what for”)
Suppose (for “what if”)
Why does it matter (for “so what”)
Regarding (for “what about”)
Furthermore (for “what’s more”)
Regardless (for “come what may”)
How’s it going (for “what’s up”)
What is the purpose (for “what’s the point”)
You won’t believe this (for “guess what”)
It cannot be undone (for “what’s done is done”)

Creative Writing Synonyms:

That which
What manner of
Wherefore
What strange
The very thing that
The essence of
That which I seek
Whatsoever
Whatever lies
Whichever path

ESL-Friendly Synonyms:

Which
That
Whatever
How
The thing that
Whether
If
Any
Such
Everything that

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the most common synonyms of what?

The most common synonyms of what are “which,” “whatever,” “that which,” “the thing that,” and “whichever.” Each works in different contexts depending on whether the sentence is a question, a clause, or an exclamation.

2. Can “which” always replace “what” in a question?

No, “which” replaces “what” only when the available answers are limited or defined. For open-ended questions with unlimited possible answers, “what” or “whatever” is the correct choice.

3. What is the formal synonym of what in academic writing?

The most widely accepted formal synonym of what in academic writing is “that which.” Other formal options include “the nature of,” “with respect to,” and “as to,” depending on the sentence structure.

4. What is the difference between “whatever” and “whichever”?

“Whatever” is used when the range of choices is open and unlimited. “Whichever” is used when you are selecting from a specific, defined set of options. Both are synonyms of what but with different scopes.

5. What are synonyms of what in indirect questions?

The best synonyms of what in indirect questions are “whether,” “if,” “the thing that,” “the way,” and “anything that.” These substitutes embed a question naturally inside a larger statement.

6. Are there informal synonyms of what?

Yes, common informal synonyms of what include “huh,” “come again,” “say what,” “pardon,” and “run that by me.” These are used in casual conversations when asking for repetition or clarification.

7. What is the best synonym of what in creative writing?

In creative writing, “that which” and “what manner of” are the most elegant substitutes. Literary alternatives like “whatsoever,” “wherefore,” and “the very thing that” also add poetic depth to fiction and poetry.

8. How does using synonyms of what improve writing quality?

Using synonyms of what reduces word repetition, adds vocabulary variety, and matches tone to context more precisely. Varied word choice signals writing skill and keeps readers more engaged throughout any piece.

9. What is the difference between “what” as a pronoun and “what” as a determiner?

As a pronoun, “what” stands alone and replaces a noun. As a determiner, “what” comes before a noun to specify or describe it. The correct synonym changes depending on which grammatical role “what” is playing.

10. Can “how” replace “what” in exclamatory sentences?

Yes, “how” is one of the most natural synonyms of what in exclamatory sentences. For example, “What a beautiful day!” can become “How beautiful this day is!” Both express strong positive emotion but use slightly different structures.

Conclusion

Synonyms of what are essential vocabulary tools for anyone who wants to write and speak English with greater precision and style.

From interrogative pronouns like “which” and “whatever,” to formal phrases like “that which” and “with respect to,” every synonym of what covered in this guide serves a specific purpose.

Using the right alternative depending on context, tone, and grammar role transforms ordinary sentences into polished, professional communication.

Whether you are a student, a writer, a teacher, or an English learner, mastering the synonyms of what gives you a powerful advantage in every form of expression in 2026.