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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rational
Consider this pathetic phenomenon yet one more reason the American people — or, at least, Californians — should demand a more rational way to fund political campaigns.
—
Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
Griffin’s self-positioning as a conservative businessman who’s more rational and ethical than the President has fuelled speculation about his own political ambitions.
—Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Louverture, in this framing, is strategic, diplomatic, rational and reasonable.
—Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Building a company on the profitable B2B side became the only rational solution to an impossible situation.
—Axel Söderberg, Fortune, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rational
Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
Griffin’s self-positioning as a conservative businessman who’s more rational and ethical than the President has fuelled speculation about his own political ambitions.
—Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Louverture, in this framing, is strategic, diplomatic, rational and reasonable.
—Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Building a company on the profitable B2B side became the only rational solution to an impossible situation.
—Axel Söderberg, Fortune, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rational
Adjective
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In an age of intelligent machines, who gets to decide what is orthodox remains one of the most important questions a free society can ask.—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Evangeline is an incredibly intelligent, talented, and heart-centered badass with the perfect voice for the project.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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While this might seem like the logical next step in the hiring process for a Ryan Murphy show, the suggestion felt anything but.—
Connor Hines,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
The move made little logical sense at the time.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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That's so important, because this isn't about reasonable disputes on policy.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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The most reasonable objection to this view is that resilience returns are too diffuse to underwrite, that avoided losses do not show up in a project’s revenue line the way tolls or tariffs do.—
Ravi S. Bhalla,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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Humor can release the writer from values of the past, along with judgment and disapproval, and instead, humor can become the very conduit for re-thinking events.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Nov. 2025
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Nibert loved the free-thinking spirit of the village and its college.—
Keith BieryGolick,
Cincinnati.com,
28 Aug. 2019
Adjective
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The person walking between those two rooms is doing the quiet, exhausting work of keeping both versions of themselves coherent.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Romantic from the first frame to the last, Park Chan-wook's 2022 masterpiece is a culmination of his steady and coherent approach to disturbing characters and his love for Hitchcock.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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None are credible challengers; Matt Conroy is the more reasoned and moderate of the three.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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This is a time for cool, calm and reasoned debate, and for legislators to think through the consequences of legislation put forth.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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On the other hand, tourism can raise valid concerns among local communities regarding overtourism, rising housing costs and strain on infrastructure.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
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The eligible resident who receives the most valid write-in votes will become mayor, even if the total is small.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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These monsters—its antitheses—constitute that part of our nature that urges us to be sensible and strong, and that inclines us to see the life drive as trivial, weak, sentimental and immoral.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
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Bold strategies like that don’t always work; the two-stop plan that most teams opted for was the safe, sensible option.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rational. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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