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
Even alternative archives require selection, embellishment, and decisions about emphasis whose rationales may not always be clear.
—
Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
For Warsh’s critics, the issue is that his rationales have been incoherent, with no discernible pattern except for advocating higher rates under Democrats and lower rates under Republicans.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Trump’s penchant for wielding emergency powers and national security rationales to take trade action has shone a spotlight on this problem.
—Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Decisions, rationales, and patterns become durable.
—Awaneesh Verma, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
In the days since the raid, the White House has offered a mess of contradictory plans and rationales.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump has not highlighted human rights and democracy as rationales for capturing Maduro.
—Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Agencies must understand how systems reach conclusions and be able to articulate those rationales to families and courts.
—Maureen Flatley, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Industry observers along with voices on both the political right and left offered differing rationales for why Kimmel was unlikely to return to the small screen any time soon.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
For Warsh’s critics, the issue is that his rationales have been incoherent, with no discernible pattern except for advocating higher rates under Democrats and lower rates under Republicans.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Trump’s penchant for wielding emergency powers and national security rationales to take trade action has shone a spotlight on this problem.
—Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Decisions, rationales, and patterns become durable.
—Awaneesh Verma, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
In the days since the raid, the White House has offered a mess of contradictory plans and rationales.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump has not highlighted human rights and democracy as rationales for capturing Maduro.
—Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Agencies must understand how systems reach conclusions and be able to articulate those rationales to families and courts.
—Maureen Flatley, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Industry observers along with voices on both the political right and left offered differing rationales for why Kimmel was unlikely to return to the small screen any time soon.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationales
Noun
-
Before scientific explanations, that kind of radical change demanded interpretation.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Many of these explanations are based on false premises; some already seem to have been abandoned.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Goldman Sachs cited a durable competitive moat and strong same-store sales growth as reasons to turn more bullish on Dutch Bros.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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For similar reasons, the ULPs against the NCAA, USC and UCLA were also pulled, effectively abandoning what had appeared to be a viable administrative pathway to securing employee status for college athletes.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The sheriff made few policy arguments in his third run for office.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026
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During closing arguments last week, prosecutors acknowledged the evidence presented in the case was circumstantial.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationales. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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