as in explained
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
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 rationalized
Given the extent to which this entire offense is slumping, the manager could have rationalized benching any one of several hitters.
—
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Of those seven losses, setbacks against Dallas and Chicago (while both were still trying to win) and Milwaukee could at least be rationalized.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Each lie is rationalized as politics.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Society has rationalized the human into triviality, and we’re stuck in a bad game.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
There needs to be a takeout of some capacity and for that to be more rationalized—or demand go up significantly.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
The American casualties were tragic, my peers rationalized, but the real problem was American foreign policy.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Even among some voters who were sincerely uncomfortable with Mamdani’s past rhetoric, many rationalized that an authentic Democrat with a pulse was still better than someone who might be manipulated from afar.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
In two key ways, aggression against Venezuela or any other Latin American country now – rationalized by Washington as a response to insufficient law enforcement against drug-running – would be dangerously unprecedented.
—Alan McPherson, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2025
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Of those seven losses, setbacks against Dallas and Chicago (while both were still trying to win) and Milwaukee could at least be rationalized.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Each lie is rationalized as politics.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Society has rationalized the human into triviality, and we’re stuck in a bad game.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
There needs to be a takeout of some capacity and for that to be more rationalized—or demand go up significantly.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
The American casualties were tragic, my peers rationalized, but the real problem was American foreign policy.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Even among some voters who were sincerely uncomfortable with Mamdani’s past rhetoric, many rationalized that an authentic Democrat with a pulse was still better than someone who might be manipulated from afar.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
In two key ways, aggression against Venezuela or any other Latin American country now – rationalized by Washington as a response to insufficient law enforcement against drug-running – would be dangerously unprecedented.
—Alan McPherson, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalized
Verb
-
However, Lobrillo explained, the county has, in the past, included a 2% increase annually in similar approvals.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
-
As Kristic explained, during the speculative post-Covid market, many galleries failed to consider the longer-term repercussions of raising the prices of ultra-contemporary works.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
This massive financial scaling is justified by intense business momentum.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
-
Routine matters might be handled internally or deferred, while more significant issues justified the cost of external counsel.—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalized. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
