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
Freed from all the entanglements that come with having to launch a ground invasion, air war can overfly not just morality and law but arguments, rationales, the calibration of risks to rewards and of suffering to satisfaction.
—
Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 9 Apr. 2026
If gerrymandering is a tough sell in Virginia, Democrats are also offering voters a simpler rationale for supporting the amendment.
—Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
The initial rationale was that 250kW would prevent greater speed differentials.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
What is Warren Schaeffer and Company’s rationale for Feltner as the fifth starter rather than Chase Dollander or Tanner Gordon, both of whom seem to be better options?
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 9 Apr. 2026
If gerrymandering is a tough sell in Virginia, Democrats are also offering voters a simpler rationale for supporting the amendment.
—Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
The initial rationale was that 250kW would prevent greater speed differentials.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
What is Warren Schaeffer and Company’s rationale for Feltner as the fifth starter rather than Chase Dollander or Tanner Gordon, both of whom seem to be better options?
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationale
Noun
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Observers have put forth several explanations for her approach.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Experts point to several possible explanations, including the overdose-reversing drug naloxone being more widely available and the expansion of addiction treatment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The reason many of the remaining adults on Medicaid are not working is that they are retired, serving as a caregiver, or too sick, KFF has found.—
Samantha Liss,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Humans are in the loop for a reason.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Our kids grew up in a house where arguments were the norm.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
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Duncan, for his part, tried to strike a balance between supporting the Royals — and his support for a downtown stadium — and the argument over what the city’s role in that discussion should be.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationale. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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