Thesaurus results for RATIONALIZE

rationalize

verb

ˈrash-nə-ˌlīz

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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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 rationalize 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 While rationalizing deception is easy to do, developing the virtue of truthfulness is not. —

Katherine Moses, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026 But as another voter rationalizes, the sheer size of the ballot will do more harm than good in the long run. —

Devon Ivie, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026 True crime, as a genre, rationalizes its exploitations—people’s tragedies and traumas, recast for popular consumption—by couching the sensationalism in considerations of justice. —

Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rationalize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalize

Verb

Besides the driver, an amiable man who was happy to explain how the shredder worked, only a few nervous schoolchildren stood around, supervised by a woman with a badge that identified her as an envoy of the library.

— Mary Norris, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
The bulletin examined nutrition in common foods (especially meat, bread, and milk), explained how the body uses food as fuel, outlined dietary standards, and considered the economy of food, food waste, and connections between food and health.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026