RATIONALIZATION Synonyms: 20 Similar Words

rationalization

noun

Definition of rationalization

as in rationale

Related Words

Relevance

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 rationalization None of this makes any sense, except as desperate rationalizations from a man who cannot face facts and admit defeat. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 The rationalization is that residents are struggling and need help paying for food, electricity and gasoline. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2026 That may have been persuasive to some partners before, but this administration’s penchant for both threats and use of force has fatally undermined the credibility of that rationalization. — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026 Although the Mughals mainly incorporated the existing Indian revenue system, Akbar’s reign also saw the rationalization of revenue administration, notably under the Hindu minister Todar Mal, with systematic land measurement and assessment that balanced imperial income with agrarian stability. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rationalization

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalization

Noun

About a month later, the Review’s opinions page published two responses, each taking aim at her rationale.

— Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Workers began to disassemble the Shapiro work, titled Blue, on Tuesday; the Kennedy Center has not stated a rationale for why the 24-foot-tall sculpture of a stick-figure-like person was taken away.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of rationale

Noun

The findings of the second report — which reviewed pretext stops by officers from other units in January — are expected to be presented at an upcoming commission meeting.

— Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Some Democrats fear Trump could use those unsubstantiated assertions as a pretext to intervene in November.

— Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of pretext

Noun

His best explanations for this are pressure from shareholders to prioritize immediate returns over long-term investments, and years of obsession with digital that came at the expense of physical retail.

— Hilary Milnes, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
The recreation is populated with people, animals, sound effects, and audio explanations.

— Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of explanation

Noun

Behind closed doors, Chloe gets hired by Melody under the pretense that Chloe is helping her teacher’s illiterate husband learn how to read.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
This entire argument has been under the pretense that the Steelers will need a win — and Rudolph will deliver it.

— Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of pretense

Noun

Throughout the weekend, Dudamel embraced the worlds of Hollywood, Latin music in many guises and old-fashioned rock.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
With their traditional, legacy rivals — the Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur — in various guises of transition, Arsenal are suddenly the team to beat and the Emirates is suddenly a library of sound; noise please.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of guise

Noun

The habeas statute directs judges to give the government three days to initially respond with justification for the detention but allows for that deadline to be extended up to 20 days.

— Carla Astudillo, ProPublica, 3 Sep. 2026
If the answer requires long justification, your growth opportunity is not communication but rather the board appointment governance.

— Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of justification

Noun

The earliest arguments for the non-existence of time go back to the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, Parmenides of Elea, in southwest Italy, who flourished in the fifth century BCE.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
The central legal argument made by the petitioners revolved around the Kansas Public Speech Protection Act, a law designed to safeguard the constitutional rights of a person to petition and prevent lawsuits that silence public participation.

— Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of argument

Browse Nearby Words

rationality

rationalization

rationalizations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rationalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalization. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rationalization

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

magnanimous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes