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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rationales
If Britain can declare prayer a punishable offense, how long before the same rationales find their way across the Atlantic?
—
Lois McLatchie Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
These various rationales add up to one approach, especially in the most high-design, high-tech high-rises.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2024
This episode of What’s Ahead demolishes the rationales of these anti-car fanatics.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
The rationales have changed, but the policies remain the same.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 13 Oct. 2024
All of these rationales have further raised the stakes on what will happen after the Party Congress is finished.
—Yanzhong Huang, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2022
Lois McLatchie Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
These various rationales add up to one approach, especially in the most high-design, high-tech high-rises.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2024
This episode of What’s Ahead demolishes the rationales of these anti-car fanatics.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
The rationales have changed, but the policies remain the same.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 13 Oct. 2024
All of these rationales have further raised the stakes on what will happen after the Party Congress is finished.
—Yanzhong Huang, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationales
Noun
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This indicates a universal positivity bias in human language, although researchers do acknowledge potential data biases and alternative explanations.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The government was forced to acknowledge the anomalies officially, despite the lack of logical explanations regarding the sightings.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Gaga joins other artists including Sting and Adele, who both recently postponed concerts due to medical reasons.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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For those reasons and more, Rohl’s signing on a season-long loan, with a €20million obligation provided Everton avoid relegation, is intriguing.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In a case with no known eye witnesses, the pendant became a direct link between Jones and Nathan, one that prosecutors cited in closing arguments to secure a conviction and, later, a death sentence for Jones.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
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Smith, who spoke first during closing arguments, reviewed footage from the bar and outside Vaughan’s apartment.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rationales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationales. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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