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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rationale
Getting more sleep might be another rationale for chowing down them.
—
Sarah Garone, Health, 22 Sep. 2025
Two people with direct knowledge of the project said — 15 months after the deal was inked — G42, Microsoft, and the Kenyan government are still working on identifying the business rationale and a sustainable financial model.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, had spent much of Thursday debating the rationale for giving newborns the hepatitis B vaccine at birth — but then the committee pushed off the vote until Friday.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Democrats accused Republicans of trampling on the rules, but Wrasse articulated the rationale that convinced the Senate GOP conference to see the vote as necessary for breaking gridlock while preserving the institution.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Sarah Garone, Health, 22 Sep. 2025
Two people with direct knowledge of the project said — 15 months after the deal was inked — G42, Microsoft, and the Kenyan government are still working on identifying the business rationale and a sustainable financial model.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, had spent much of Thursday debating the rationale for giving newborns the hepatitis B vaccine at birth — but then the committee pushed off the vote until Friday.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Democrats accused Republicans of trampling on the rules, but Wrasse articulated the rationale that convinced the Senate GOP conference to see the vote as necessary for breaking gridlock while preserving the institution.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationale
Noun
-
Abramov points out that this does not disprove the Mars life explanation, but rather just presents an alternative, albeit much more probable, explanation for the evidence.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The Taliban has not yet given an explanation for its decision to implement the wider blackout this week.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There are a few reasons for this.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Trump has leaned heavily on the courts during his second term to challenge media outlets, but as of Wednesday night, the president’s legal team has not brought a new lawsuit against ABC, for predictable reasons, according to experts.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even if a dissenting perspective isn’t correct or better, dissent brings different views to the fore so that they can be debated, and that improves and sharpens arguments, options and outcomes.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Twin Cities,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Be careful of triggering an argument.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationale. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share