as in explanation
a statement given to explain a belief or act
the rationale for starting the school day an hour later is that kids will supposedly get an extra hour of sleep
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Recent Examples of rationale
State law required nonprofits to approve transactions between related parties by majority vote, then document their rationale.
—
Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Its rationale, to form the basis of a marketing campaign, rings all too true.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 16 May 2026
That’s exactly the rationale that Rutgers used to cancel Elghandour’s speech, of course.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
This story made the most sense to me, and for the next forty years his death became the rationale and justification for my Vietnam War obsession.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Its rationale, to form the basis of a marketing campaign, rings all too true.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 16 May 2026
That’s exactly the rationale that Rutgers used to cancel Elghandour’s speech, of course.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
This story made the most sense to me, and for the next forty years his death became the rationale and justification for my Vietnam War obsession.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationale
Noun
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In other words, regulators reached for a regulatory explanation—burdensome listing rules—for a phenomenon with structural economic roots.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
Nester said there is an innocent explanation.—
Natalie Morales,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
There is no good reason for what just happened over the past six days.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
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At this point the Red Sox are in serious danger, and the only reason the club is even within striking distance of a playoff spot is because the rest of the American League has been so poor.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
That brings us to her second argument.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
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In the waning days before California’s primary election, the two top Republicans running for California governor delivered closing arguments in front of a friendly Central Valley audience Friday evening.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationale. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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