as in explanations
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 rationales
The lawsuit also includes a lot of lengthy rationales that this is cultural appropriation of an Indigenous person that has nothing to do with the legality of Right of Publicity.
—
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
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
Investors look for reasons to take profits, even though the rationales may have nothing to do with the market action.
—Michael Hiltzik, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Instead, the White House offered frequently shifting rationales for its war and little outreach to the Iranian resistance.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Indeed, that’s one of the main rationales for banks issuing these lifestyle cards.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Among the chief rationales for the lower tax rate on capital gains is to counter the effect of inflation.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, as the military operation continues, the Administration has offered, what appear to be, differing rationales for the initial strikes, prompting further confusion and demands from Congress for answers.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 10 Mar. 2026
The administration has offered shifting rationales and timelines since the start of the conflict.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
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
Investors look for reasons to take profits, even though the rationales may have nothing to do with the market action.
—Michael Hiltzik, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Instead, the White House offered frequently shifting rationales for its war and little outreach to the Iranian resistance.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Indeed, that’s one of the main rationales for banks issuing these lifestyle cards.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Among the chief rationales for the lower tax rate on capital gains is to counter the effect of inflation.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, as the military operation continues, the Administration has offered, what appear to be, differing rationales for the initial strikes, prompting further confusion and demands from Congress for answers.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 10 Mar. 2026
The administration has offered shifting rationales and timelines since the start of the conflict.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationales
Noun
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But those are the kind of explanations that every losing team can claim.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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McCarty offered one of the clearest explanations of the challenge.—
Noah Gulley,
Miami Herald,
4 May 2026
Noun
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With the exception of the punitive visit to the bank, Suzanna’s grandmother does not discuss her daughter’s crime or her reasons for committing it.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The government exists to create the environment where these technologies can help Californians to flourish, not limit them for sometimes political reasons, which is always overreach.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Noun
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The document filed by the Justice Department in the Los Angeles Superior Court case led by plaintiffs Todd and Kimberley Ferrier — whose Pacific Palisades home burned down — buttresses arguments made by the victims’ attorneys.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
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Turner had an unexpected friendship with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, bonding over hunting and arguments about politics over rum and cigars.—
David Bauder,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationales. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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