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
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
But each of these rationales demands a different strategy; eliminating an imminent threat involves a different set of operations than establishing peace in the region (or the world).
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
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
But each of these rationales demands a different strategy; eliminating an imminent threat involves a different set of operations than establishing peace in the region (or the world).
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationales
Noun
-
Observers have put forth several explanations for her approach.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Researchers who study octopus behavior offered their own explanations for what drives this kind of escape.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In addition to the restricted access to the villages, Adraee warned against moving south of another 21 villages in the area for safety reasons.—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
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Overall, the reasons for the decline are still debated.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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If that timeline holds, closing arguments would take place on May 5, and a sentencing verdict could come that same day.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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The health and environmental arguments for these political positions have been argued to death, but Barrett says that the economic consequences of dirty air are often overlooked.—
Meg Tanaka,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationales. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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