as in explaining
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 rationalizing
Instead of obsessively over-rationalizing or avoiding, try making friends with that feeling.
—
Goth Shakira
contributing, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
While rationalizing deception is easy to do, developing the virtue of truthfulness is not.
—Katherine Moses, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
If there were a Mensa society for rationalizing one’s own shitty behavior, Pippa would be its president.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Aeffe is rationalizing its retail network and earlier this month the board approved the early termination of the rental contract signed with two real estate firms, Colloportus and FQuattro, respectively controlled by designer Alberta Ferretti and her brother, executive chairman Massimo Ferretti.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
This time, rationalizing the medical results was impossible.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Boards under pressure for growth routinely make the wrong choice—rationalizing the damage as a problem for their successors.
—Andrew King, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
To find the best, most up-to-date information, that validation typically involves toggling between PubMed, society guidelines, journal notifications and conference summaries, and then rationalizing information that doesn’t always align.
—Anna Forsythe, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Headed one direction This line of thinking leads in one direction — rationalizing extreme measures in response.
—David French, Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2025
Goth Shakira
contributing, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
While rationalizing deception is easy to do, developing the virtue of truthfulness is not.
—Katherine Moses, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
If there were a Mensa society for rationalizing one’s own shitty behavior, Pippa would be its president.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Aeffe is rationalizing its retail network and earlier this month the board approved the early termination of the rental contract signed with two real estate firms, Colloportus and FQuattro, respectively controlled by designer Alberta Ferretti and her brother, executive chairman Massimo Ferretti.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
This time, rationalizing the medical results was impossible.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Boards under pressure for growth routinely make the wrong choice—rationalizing the damage as a problem for their successors.
—Andrew King, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
To find the best, most up-to-date information, that validation typically involves toggling between PubMed, society guidelines, journal notifications and conference summaries, and then rationalizing information that doesn’t always align.
—Anna Forsythe, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Headed one direction This line of thinking leads in one direction — rationalizing extreme measures in response.
—David French, Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalizing
Verb
-
The species evolved to adapt, with some growing larger and others smaller than their mainland counterparts, explaining the larger size of the island scrub-jay and the small size of the island fox.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
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In 2012, Classic Media was bought by DreamWorks Animation, which in turn was acquired by Universal Pictures parent NBCUniversal in 2016, explaining why the potential Disney+ series is a co-production between DreamWorks Animation TV and UCP.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Quiet-luxury proponents would often speak of frequency of use and cost per wear in justifying a four-figure black wool sweater.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Military technology has become more sophisticated, but the minds justifying its use are stuck in the past.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rationalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalizing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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