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
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Recent Examples of rationalized
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
This propensity for mental acrobatics, alongside his immense arrogance, was how Epstein rationalized his crimes to himself.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
In 2023, the Eagles were 4-0 (and eventually 10-1), and their issues were often rationalized by pointing to the record.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
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
This propensity for mental acrobatics, alongside his immense arrogance, was how Epstein rationalized his crimes to himself.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
In 2023, the Eagles were 4-0 (and eventually 10-1), and their issues were often rationalized by pointing to the record.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalized
Verb
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Bartlett had been affiliated with the abolitionist movement during his time attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, Krupa explained.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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As the coverage increases to about 80%, shadows on the ground begin to sharpen and lose their fuzzy edges, the light around you dims, and shadows start to look curved, Young explained.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Any increase should be a last resort and carefully justified to protect residents already facing rising costs.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
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Government officials have defended officers’ actions as necessary and justified, while giving misleading or false accounts of some clashes.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalized. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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