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

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of rationalize Ricketts rationalized that the money from Bellinger’s contract could be diverted elsewhere. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025 In the late 1800s, local elites attempted to rationalize charitable giving by forming charitable societies to act as umbrella organizations that could weed out the undeserving from the deserving. Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 Psychology Today notes that when someone feels offended, acknowledging their emotions without immediately trying to rationalize or defend the comment can help de-escalate the situation. David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025 For example, moral disengagement—when individuals justify or rationalize their lack of empathy—can exacerbate this issue. Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rationalize

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“Rationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationalize. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

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