as in to explain
to give the reason for or cause of
rationalized his decision to buy the new car by noting that it was more fuel efficient than his old vehicle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of rationalize
Given this reality, Israelis’ attribution of collective responsibility for the Oct. 7 attack creates a troubling moral calculus that rationalizes civilian suffering.
—
Carlo Koos, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
Rather than condemning such actions, the previous Biden administration report rationalized them.
—Scott Suckow, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Additionally, when your actions (staying) and your values (wanting to be treated well) conflict, your mind works overtime to make the discomfort go away — often by rationalizing the psychological abuse rather than confronting it.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
And with that creative thinking comes questioning everything and rationalizing why things are done the way they are done.
—Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationalize
Carlo Koos, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
Rather than condemning such actions, the previous Biden administration report rationalized them.
—Scott Suckow, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Additionally, when your actions (staying) and your values (wanting to be treated well) conflict, your mind works overtime to make the discomfort go away — often by rationalizing the psychological abuse rather than confronting it.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
And with that creative thinking comes questioning everything and rationalizing why things are done the way they are done.
—Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalize
Verb
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But in the late 19th century, Finkelstein explained, women who'd worked as nurses during the Civil War, even though not part of the Union or Confederate armies, lobbied for and won the right to be buried at Arlington.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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As a condition of invitation to the festival, breweries must have a brewer in attendance to answer questions and explain their beers.—
Don Tse,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Verb
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But as cloud spend goes up, the need to justify cost efforts and demonstrate cost avoidance to execs will increase.—
Adrian Bridgwater,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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His breezy accounts betray no anxiety to justify the expense of sending him around the world.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalize. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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