1
as in intelligent
having the ability to reason
human beings are rational creatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
The alliance emphasizes that climate emotions — anxiety, grief, even rage — are not pathologies but rational responses to a destabilized world.
—
Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Batch was trying to be rational but was often swayed by Buzz's mesmerizing touting.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
Some geomyths, recounted orally over generations, are based on eyewitness experiences, while other accounts are grounded in a keen awareness of local terrains, plus rational and imaginative ideas about the powerful forces of nature.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Technologists are rational—at least, that’s the idea.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rational
Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Batch was trying to be rational but was often swayed by Buzz's mesmerizing touting.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
Some geomyths, recounted orally over generations, are based on eyewitness experiences, while other accounts are grounded in a keen awareness of local terrains, plus rational and imaginative ideas about the powerful forces of nature.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Technologists are rational—at least, that’s the idea.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rational
Adjective
-
For the first time, a machine was able to do what only intelligent humans had previously done.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Humans have a much larger neocortex than other animals, relative to body size, and the species with the largest neocortices—elephants, dolphins, gorillas, chimpanzees, dogs—are among the most intelligent.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Not even a meta ending that pushes that idea to its logical breaking point can sour you on it.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
-
To be fair, public entities have been stretching public records trade secret exceptions to logical extremes long before college athletes started getting paid—and these carve-outs are often intended to be permissive.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The full selection, including Bib Gourmand restaurants (an honor that highlights restaurants offering high-quality food at reasonable prices), recognizes 228 restaurants spanning 44 cuisine types, shining a national and international spotlight on the varied cuisines and talented chefs of the South.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The Penguins have a pretty reasonable amount of depth on the blue line, especially on the right side, which would make that move easier to absorb.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Lizzo’s understanding of a litany of online phrases is coherent enough, albeit overwhelming to hear all in succession.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
When your nervous system is coherent, time slows down.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The ledger is the foundation of reasoned conclusion.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The differences between any given Grokipedia and Wikipedia entry are in some sense hard to debate because there is no shared ground upon which to have a reasoned disagreement; to gravitate toward Grokipedia is to leave the world of evidence for that of belief.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Nibert loved the free-thinking spirit of the village and its college.—
Keith BieryGolick,
Cincinnati.com,
28 Aug. 2019
-
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
-
Military admission with valid ID is $18.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle, valid for a full week across all three park units, or $55 for an annual pass.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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At 48 percent off, the traveler-adored Matein Travel Laptop Backpack is an excellent, sensible gift that can function as both a personal item and an everyday sightseeing tote.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
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Understanding the absurdity of one trillion anything makes the $38 trillion US national debt that economists have been blathering on about for years look almost sensible.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rational. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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