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
Far too many people, who also depended on the accused for their livelihoods, ignored complaints and obvious signs of distress or simply looked the other way, rationalizing the incidents as the cost of doing business.
—
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
The unraveling started a few years earlier when the aerospace company that owned them decided to rationalize and get itself out of the car business.
—ArsTechnica, 13 May 2025
For each, the gallery is a stage set, its proportions rationalized by Goulds.
—Tom Teicholz, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
If preventing human extinction is the ultimate good, virtually any present sacrifice can and should be rationalized.
—John Kaag, The Atlantic, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationalize
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
The unraveling started a few years earlier when the aerospace company that owned them decided to rationalize and get itself out of the car business.
—ArsTechnica, 13 May 2025
For each, the gallery is a stage set, its proportions rationalized by Goulds.
—Tom Teicholz, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
If preventing human extinction is the ultimate good, virtually any present sacrifice can and should be rationalized.
—John Kaag, The Atlantic, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalize
Verb
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Brad Kirner, director of destination development at Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, explained in the email interview that with tourism making up around 70% of the Cook Islands’ GDP, the border closure due to COVID-19 essentially froze the economy overnight.—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Stevens explains that there are three things to consider when looking at sustainability in swim: materials and process innovation, communication and transparency, and giving back.—
Alyssa Hardy,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
Verb
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If the Tripadvisor business was the company’s only segment, this valuation could be justified.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
12 July 2025
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What event could possibly justify closing a major highway for days on end?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalize. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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