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

The narrator, purged of identifiers except for her yearning, her rational faculties, and her sense of unbelonging, is counterintuitively relatable—a portrait of rudimentary, universal humanity. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

So much for the rational part of an exasperating season that marked the first time since 2014 that the Chiefs failed to make the playoffs. — Vahe Gregorian july 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

The rational response to such arbitrary power is not to satisfy consumer demands, but to keep in the good graces of the Big Player. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 27 July 2026

There’s a fine line in scouting between finding rational reasons for a lack of production and making excuses for a player. — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 27 July 2026