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
Researchers also highlight the role of brain processes, such as the frontal lobe’s ability to organize and justify events in how secrecy is rationalized and maintained.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Through that prism, the Robinson trade could be rationalized.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Through that prism, the Robinson trade could be rationalized.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationalized
Verb
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Green then explained the medical and industrial applications for these new knits.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
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Her therapist – who Heming Willis accidentally referred to her as her own caregiver – explained how normal these feelings were.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The senior editor for the free speech absolutist Reason magazine said her firing was fully justified as being due to journalistic malpractice.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
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In the YouGov survey conducted in the immediate aftermath of the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 72 percent of Americans said violence is never justified, while 11 percent said it can sometimes be justified.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rationalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalized. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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