as in to explain
to give the reason for or cause of
rationalized his decision to buy the new car by noting that it was more fuel efficient than his old vehicle
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Recent Examples of rationalize
Instead of obsessively over-rationalizing or avoiding, try making friends with that feeling.
—
Goth Shakira
contributing, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Of those seven losses, setbacks against Dallas and Chicago (while both were still trying to win) and Milwaukee could at least be rationalized.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
While rationalizing deception is easy to do, developing the virtue of truthfulness is not.
—Katherine Moses, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
But as another voter rationalizes, the sheer size of the ballot will do more harm than good in the long run.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationalize
Goth Shakira
contributing, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Of those seven losses, setbacks against Dallas and Chicago (while both were still trying to win) and Milwaukee could at least be rationalized.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
While rationalizing deception is easy to do, developing the virtue of truthfulness is not.
—Katherine Moses, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
But as another voter rationalizes, the sheer size of the ballot will do more harm than good in the long run.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalize
Verb
-
Perhaps the aether did exist, but it could never be construed as being in motion by an observer on the Earth, because the aether itself was being dragged by objects traveling through space, such as the Earth, explaining why a null result was obtained.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
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The impacts of these events still feel fresh, Serpi explains through a digital translator.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Abraham Lincoln was wary of the doctrine, perceiving that any such notion of divine inevitability could be used to justify land grabs and war.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Dieck's use of deadly force was deemed justified by a critical response team, the 18th Judicial District Attorney, and an internal Aurora Police Department investigation.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalize. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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