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
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Recent Examples of rationalize
But how to rationalize the black eye to CBS News and its signature news show 60 Minutes?
—
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 14 July 2025
That argument can help rationalize the Islanders’ decision to make this trade in the first place, with Matthew Schaefer incoming.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Yet, instead of universal outrage, attempts to justify this atrocity have already begun — as if these cold-blooded murders can somehow be rationalized by events in Gaza thousands of miles away.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2025
The group again tries to rationalize the morality of killing the baby.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationalize
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 14 July 2025
That argument can help rationalize the Islanders’ decision to make this trade in the first place, with Matthew Schaefer incoming.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Yet, instead of universal outrage, attempts to justify this atrocity have already begun — as if these cold-blooded murders can somehow be rationalized by events in Gaza thousands of miles away.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2025
The group again tries to rationalize the morality of killing the baby.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalize
Verb
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Their offensive approach, Lindor explained, derived some from conversations with Little Leaguers about keeping it simple.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
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Here, Katie Bergstrom, a fitness trainer and yoga instructor, explains how to get started.—
Health Editorial Team,
Health,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Instead, it is used symbolically: to impress investors, manage employee morale, and justify corporate restructuring.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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The military, which had previously ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for decades, sought to justify its takeover by alleging widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, which was won in a landslide by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalize. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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