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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rationale
Tom Werner | Getty Investors shifted their 401(k) plan allocations away from stocks to bonds and cash in September, according to an analysis by Alight, a retirement plan administrator — a behavior that could be financially perilous, depending on their rationale.
—
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
In the analyst community, the rationale partnering stacks up.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025
Groups should take notes on both the medical rationale and the cultural attitudes embedded in your sources.
—JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
Suspects’ motivations change with little rationale.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
In the analyst community, the rationale partnering stacks up.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025
Groups should take notes on both the medical rationale and the cultural attitudes embedded in your sources.
—JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
Suspects’ motivations change with little rationale.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationale
Noun
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To the uninitiated, this explanation might seem a little… off-kilter.—
James Factora,
Them.,
21 Oct. 2025
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Aircraft, ammunition belts, bolts of fabric, mine-working, kilt-making, cement-mixing, nuns, saris and American football have all been marshaled as explanations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Today with Jenna & Friends co-host credited her sister as the reason for many of her successes, including her role as a television host.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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The Raptors’ 34-11 advantage in fast-break points was the biggest reason for that.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The best argument to count the goal?—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Brooks, who lives across the street from where the stabbing happened, got into an argument with the teacher before going to his home to get a knife, KUSA reported.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationale. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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