1
as in intelligent
having the ability to reason
human beings are rational creatures
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in logical
according to the rules of logic
insisted there was a rational explanation for the strange creaking noises and that there were no such things as ghosts
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3
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information
betting all of your savings on the lottery is not a rational move
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rational
Most rational people don’t bet on long shots, especially given how ugly politics has become.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The way Law plays him, Putin is something almost scarier than a monster — a rational tyrant, a man to mess with, or even disagree with, at your peril.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Hopefully rational voices, if there are any left inside the White House or the Pentagon, will prevail in the coming days.
—USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
In these situations, our prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for rational decision-making and reasoning – is decommissioned while our body prepares to fend off the threat.
—Nancy L. Weaver, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rational
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The way Law plays him, Putin is something almost scarier than a monster — a rational tyrant, a man to mess with, or even disagree with, at your peril.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Hopefully rational voices, if there are any left inside the White House or the Pentagon, will prevail in the coming days.
—USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
In these situations, our prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for rational decision-making and reasoning – is decommissioned while our body prepares to fend off the threat.
—Nancy L. Weaver, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rational
Adjective
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Together, these agents represent an intelligent, adaptive defense system comparable to the collaboration of a human security operations center, but with the speed and scale of machines.—
Perry Carpenter,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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And his evocation of the specific political environment of pre-war Algeria is an intelligent contemporary expansion on the novel.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Searching for a logical progression from The Office and like-minded comedies, so far The Paper has come up with a strange, often funny hybrid, with characters experiencing Parks and Rec idealism and Office-style fluorescent-light tedium simultaneously and sometimes incoherently.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
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Without a body to put to rest, even when there is no other logical conclusion than death, people can imagine and cling to the most improbable of alternatives.—
Bjorn Dihle,
Outdoor Life,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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As the morning goes on, the turnaround points will move closer to the ends of the bridge, so walkers need to keep up a reasonable pace.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Consider the Nortiv 8 Men’s Low Waterproof Hiking Shoe, now on sale for a reasonable $40.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But the partnership’s work on emerging Pillar 2 technologies is less coherent than AUKUS plans for Australian nuclear submarines.—
GARY ROUGHEAD,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Sep. 2025
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Because the friction caused by waves that slightly interfere is slightly less stable than the coherent state when waves seamlessly add up.—
Ginny Whitelaw,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Nibert loved the free-thinking spirit of the village and its college.—
Keith BieryGolick,
Cincinnati.com,
28 Aug. 2019
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Credit Gus Malzahn for being proactive and thinking long-term in choosing his starting quarterback.—
Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com,
al,
22 Aug. 2019
Adjective
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The report says the concern is valid, but data from cities with similar taxes show minimal impact on attendance.—
Malachi Barrett,
Freep.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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However, according to state law, COVID-19 vaccines can only be administered to those over 18 with a valid prescription.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The decision to have Keith Andrews succeed Thomas Frank as head coach is a sensible one.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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This can, at first glance, appear sensible to an organization mired in firefighting, where every day reveals another problem.—
Nelson P. Repenning,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rational. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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