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
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Recent Examples of rationale
As for the other six hires, well, the rationale is shaky.
—
Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
In explaining the rationale for the deal, Musk said in the statement that the least expensive way to do AI computations within two to three years will be in space.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 2 Feb. 2026
But many in the science community still disagree, vehemently, both with geoengineering proposals and with the rationale for considering them at all.
—Christian Elliott, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
On the other hand, another important rationale for renewables beyond economics is their role in energy security.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
In explaining the rationale for the deal, Musk said in the statement that the least expensive way to do AI computations within two to three years will be in space.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 2 Feb. 2026
But many in the science community still disagree, vehemently, both with geoengineering proposals and with the rationale for considering them at all.
—Christian Elliott, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
On the other hand, another important rationale for renewables beyond economics is their role in energy security.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationale
Noun
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The challenge is confirming biological activity while eliminating non-biologic explanations.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
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Then, as Musk has been prone to do, the former presidential adviser disregarded much of his previous explanation and said that building a civilization on Mars was still an option, just that building on the Moon is SpaceX’s current priority.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There are, once again, a few reasons for this.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Feb. 2026
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The 2026 reason to sending rockets into space has to do with infrastructure — first, internet satellites, and now, AI data centers in orbit, Bloomberg’s Matt Levine writes.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The boy who took the video distributed it to others a couple of weeks later, after he and Smith’s son got into an argument, the claim said.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
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Other evidence is immense, Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Bill Vassar suggested on Friday in the state’s closing argument to the jury considering Bell-Johnson’s guilt or innocence.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationale. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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