rationales

plural of rationale
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rationales While there are plenty of rationales, CBS News will have to be patient and hope that viewers will sample the program, which largely had the same look as last year despite Weiss’ changes. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Commentators from across the political spectrum have observed that, while opponents might cite water or electricity usage as their reasons, there are deeper rationales for the reaction against data centers. — Stephanie Hanes, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026 For Mary Kay, the latter of these rationales seems to have been clothed in the guise of the former, though the precise catalyst for establishing her own outfit remains indeterminate. — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 15 July 2026 Americans heard much more forthright rationales from generals involved in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 State legislators have various rationales for getting involved in national security policy. — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026 That, together with preemptive blocking and generalized rationales, suggests that the volunteer community is increasingly prioritizing prevention, efficiency and content quality over efforts to rehabilitate new users. — Ryan McGrady, The Conversation, 25 June 2026 Cicero has been my nemesis in this book, for unconscionably grasping for elder power and offering up rationales for doing so repeated over the centuries. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 Transparency mechanisms such as feature attribution logging and traceable alert rationales are becoming standard components in pharmacy AI platforms. — Ethan Stone june 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationales
Noun
  • Own the outcome immediately, fix the problem publicly and leave the defensive explanations out of it.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Public libraries offer free SHSAT books with instructions, explanations, and complete sample tests, along with free online tutoring.
    — Wai Wah Chin, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Aiden Markram missed out the first match due to personal reasons, but returned as opening batter, replacing Tony de Zorzi.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • That’s not to say anything of the sort is guaranteed soon — single events are never guaranteed this far out — but there are reasons to take this El Niño seriously thanks to just how astonishing some of the numbers are.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Closing arguments were presented on Tuesday, followed by the start of jury deliberations.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Hannah-Jones does repeat the old arguments about why these schools fail, but in an almost perfunctory manner, the way a heretic might recite the Lord’s Prayer more out of habit than out of belief.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rationales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationales. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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