as in explanation
a statement given to explain a belief or act
the rationale for starting the school day an hour later is that kids will supposedly get an extra hour of sleep
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rationale
The president addressed this firing with members of his Cabinet, and made his rationale known in letters and telegrams to key leaders in Congress.
—
William H. McRaven,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2026
Trump previously made limiting Iran’s missile program a rationale for US military operations, but his stance shifted during negotiations.
—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
The result is a system in which some districts can spend tens of thousands of dollars more per student than others, with no strategic rationale to explain why a student in one community receives far more support than a student in another.
—
Dr. Gisele C. Shorter,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
In late April, Hegseth appeared before the Armed Services Committee for a budget hearing that stretched nearly six hours and devolved at times into a debate over the war with Iran, its rationale, and its likely endgame.
—
Nik Popli,
Time,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationale
William H. McRaven,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2026
Trump previously made limiting Iran’s missile program a rationale for US military operations, but his stance shifted during negotiations.
—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
The result is a system in which some districts can spend tens of thousands of dollars more per student than others, with no strategic rationale to explain why a student in one community receives far more support than a student in another.
—
Dr. Gisele C. Shorter,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
In late April, Hegseth appeared before the Armed Services Committee for a budget hearing that stretched nearly six hours and devolved at times into a debate over the war with Iran, its rationale, and its likely endgame.
—
Nik Popli,
Time,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationale
Noun
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And most interestingly, her chyron identifies her as a Freelance Journalist with no further explanation.
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Some explanations of bodily difference were obviously wrong, such as physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush’s conviction that the dark skin of African Americans was a disease, derived from leprosy.
Noun
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But this also is among the reasons her books are considered must-reads in the classroom, and contemporary classics.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines in 2025 for a number of reasons.
Noun
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But Erwin Chemerinsky, Berkeley’s law school dean, said Trump still won most of the cases the court decided either after oral arguments or through emergency appeals the administration brought.
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Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle told KTVI that the incident happened after an argument erupted inside the BP gas station at South Florissant and Woodstock roads.
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationale. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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