1
as in intelligent
having the ability to reason
human beings are rational creatures
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in logical
according to the rules of logic
insisted there was a rational explanation for the strange creaking noises and that there were no such things as ghosts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information
betting all of your savings on the lottery is not a rational move
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rational
Otherworldly movement somehow matched the different music in ways that seem rational but not needing to make sense.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025
In making such a claim, Bonhoeffer moved the aim of conscience away from obedience to rational principles and to the more demanding and concrete love for God and one’s living, breathing, suffering neighbor.
—David Decosse, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
The other brain was kind of being more rational, thinking, ‘OK, what’s broken?
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Virgos are known for their rational and even-keeled demeanor.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rational
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025
In making such a claim, Bonhoeffer moved the aim of conscience away from obedience to rational principles and to the more demanding and concrete love for God and one’s living, breathing, suffering neighbor.
—David Decosse, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
The other brain was kind of being more rational, thinking, ‘OK, what’s broken?
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Virgos are known for their rational and even-keeled demeanor.
—Lisa Stardust, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rational
Adjective
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Yes, Love Hotel might be Bravo’s most emotionally intelligent experiment yet.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
22 Apr. 2025
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Talos, Pandora and other artificially intelligent entities had already set the stage for humans to explore this idea.—
Sofia Giannuzzi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The logical conclusion is for the US to convert its gold holdings into bitcoin.—
Korok Ray,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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That makes for a logical disconnect, and palpable hypocrisy.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But looking at the right benchmarks shows that post-neoliberal economic policy—evident to a large degree in the actions of the Biden administration—righted the ship and kept the country afloat and sailing at a reasonable clip.—
Jennifer M. Harris,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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Read has pleaded not guilty, denied killing O'Keefe and alleged she is being framed, attempting to sow reasonable doubt in prosecutors' claims and asserting that someone else killed O'Keefe and had ties to and influence over the investigation.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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His pledge to shift the agency’s posture toward coherent, forward-looking policy marks a significant departure from the SEC’s previous approach.—
Jason Brett,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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After a certain amount of playtime, what’s on-screen stops looking like a coherent world and starts looking like inputs and outputs, challenges and rewards.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nibert loved the free-thinking spirit of the village and its college.—
Keith BieryGolick,
Cincinnati.com,
28 Aug. 2019
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Credit Gus Malzahn for being proactive and thinking long-term in choosing his starting quarterback.—
Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com,
al,
22 Aug. 2019
Adjective
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There are valid criticisms of the work colleges and universities do, Cornwell added, but they are being met with a disproportionate response from the federal government.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2025
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Hackers roll back a device’s clock to a time when expired security certificates were still valid.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Sky would be a sensible target for CHSN to improve its portfolio.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2025
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Parker rushes out to tell McGee, who's seeing Gibbs’ old truck in his parking place instead of his own sensible dad car.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rational. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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