Synonyms of rational

rational

adjective

ˈrash-nəl 

1

as in intelligent

having the ability to reason

human beings are rational creatures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intelligent
• reasoning
• reasonable
• thinking
• logical
• mental
• analytic
• intellectual
• practical
• cognitive
• cerebral
• sensible
• sane
• brainy
• cognitional
• highbrow
• levelheaded
• highbrowed
• sober

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• irrational
• unreasonable
• nonrational
• unthinking
• unintelligent
• unreasoning
• stupid
• dense
• slow
• dumb
• mindless
• dull
• senseless
• fatuous
• obtuse
• nonthinking
• brainless
• illogical
• dopey
• nonsensical
• dorky
• groundless
• fallacious
• invalid
• doltish
• thickheaded
• half-witted

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

• logical
• reasonable
• coherent
• valid
• sensible
• good
• analytic
• empirical
• sound
• justifiable
• consequent
• well-grounded
• well-founded
• cognitive
• defensible
• syllogistic
• sustainable
• a priori
• supportable
• tenable
• maintainable
• a posteriori
• defendable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• irrational
• unreasonable
• illogical
• weak
• incoherent
• unsound
• illegitimate
• misleading
• invalid
• inconsequential
• specious
• sophistic
• fallacious
• casuistic
• unscientific
• inconsequent
• stupid
• absurd
• unarticulated
• insane
• mad
• nonsensical
• crazy
• preposterous
• eristic
• fatuous
• loony
• nutty
• thoughtless
• witless
• senseless
• simpleminded
• daffy
• harebrained
• cockeyed
• unconvincing
• weak-minded
• half-baked
• half-witted
• uncompelling

3

as in reasonable

based on sound reasoning or information

betting all of your savings on the lottery is not a rational move

Synonyms & Similar Words

• logical
• reasonable
• reasoned
• sensible
• valid
• good
• justified
• solid
• hard
• true
• commonsense
• informed
• sober
• plausible
• well-founded
• commonsensical
• levelheaded
• firm
• credible
• just
• real
• actual
• validated
• commonsensible
• convincing
• certain
• sure
• substantiated
• cogent
• certified
• confirmed
• colorable
• verified
• corroborated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• irrational
• unreasonable
• illogical
• nonrational
• unsound
• nonsensical
• uninformed
• unfounded
• unjustified
• groundless
• invalid
• unwarranted
• unsupported
• unsubstantiated
• unreasoned
• weak
• implausible
• flimsy
• unconvincing
• false
• misguided
• nonvalid
• fallacious
• misled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rational

Predicting the costs How cities full of rational, educated, financially prudent people get sucked in, how we’re persuaded to put aside concerns about being stuck with a massive bill and just surrender to the spectacle. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

There is, in the cold, rational, and most-of-all humorless heart of Defoe, intimations of a world to come (which is our own). — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

He is surrounded by a parade of savvier comic archetypes — from his urbane, happily rational brother, Beralde (Dylan Baker), to his smart-aleck maid, Toinette (Rachel Bloom, giving eternal side-eye) — who have to either evade or manipulate him. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

So in the short term, these employers are arguably making an economically rational decision — but one that may still come at their employees’ expense. — Dylan Scott, Vox, 15 Oct. 2026