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rationalize
[ rash-uh-nl-ahyz, rash-nl-ahyz ]
verb (used with object)
- to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.
- to remove unreasonable elements from.
- to make rational or conformable to reason.
- to treat or explain in a rational or rationalistic manner.
- Mathematics. to eliminate radicals from (an equation or expression):
to rationalize the denominator of a fraction.
- Chiefly British. to reorganize and integrate (an industry).
verb (used without object)
- to invent plausible explanations for acts, opinions, etc., that are actually based on other causes:
He tried to prove that he was not at fault, but he was obviously rationalizing.
- to employ reason; think in a rational or rationalistic manner.
rationalize
/ ˈæʃəəˌɪ /
verb
- to justify (one's actions, esp discreditable actions, or beliefs) with plausible reasons, esp after the event
- psychol to indulge, often unchallenged, in excuses for or explanations of (behaviour about which one feels uncomfortable or guilty)
- to apply logic or reason to (something)
- to eliminate unnecessary equipment, personnel, or processes from (a group of businesses, factory, etc), in order to make it more efficient
- tr maths to eliminate one or more radicals without changing the value of (an expression) or the roots of (an equation)
Usage Note
Derived Forms
- ˌپDzԲˈپDz, noun
- ˈپDzԲˌ, noun
Other Word Forms
- ·پDz····پDz [rash-, uh, -nl-ahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n, rash-nl-] especially British, ·پDz····پDz noun
- ·پDz··· especially British, ·پDz··· noun
- ԴDz··پDz·· especially British, ԴDz··پDz·· adjective
- ···پDz·· verb overrationalized overrationalizing
- ···پDz·· especially British, ···پDz·· adjective
- ܲ··پDz·· especially British, ܲ··پDz·· adjective
- ܲ··پDz···Բ especially British, ܲ··پDz···Բ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of rationalize1
Example Sentences
I'm a lot better now at rationalizing facts and reminding myself of what those things are, and that helps me not get ahead of myself and have a super emotional reaction to a thing.
Don’t ask me to explain or rationalize it, because I can’t.
"Whether they don't care or don't know, it's because they've been colossally misinformed. That's how they rationalize their choices at the ballot box."
When you’ve seen a pack of feral children eat two of their own, you may rightly wager they’ll rationalize devouring the longest pig at the first opportunity.
Christian nationalists rationalize their will to dominance on false claims that they are the "true" Americans and the rest of us — liberal Christians, non-believers, non-Christians — are interlopers.
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