Nearby Words

rationalize

[rash-uh-nl-ahyz, rash-nl-ahyz] Example Sentences

ra·tion·al·ize

[rash-uh-nl-ahyz, rash-nl-ahyz] verb, -ized, -iz·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
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.
2.
to remove unreasonable elements from.
3.
to make rational or conformable to reason.
4.
to treat or explain in a rational or rationalistic manner.
5.
Mathematics. to eliminate radicals from (an equation or expression): to rationalize the denominator of a fraction.
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6.
Chiefly British. to reorganize and integrate (an industry).
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
7.
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.
8.
to employ reason; think in a rational or rationalistic manner.

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Rationalize is always a great word to know.
So is rule of three. Does it mean:
the method of finding the fourth term in a proportion when three terms are given
a rational number or the limit of a sequence of rational numbers, as opposed to a complex number
Also, especially British, ra·tion·al·ise.


Origin:
1810–20; rational + -ize

ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, noun
ra·tion·al·iz·er, noun
non·ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, noun
non·ra·tion·al·ized, adjective
o·ver·ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, noun
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o·ver·ra·tion·al·ize, verb, -ized, -iz·ing.
sem·i·ra·tion·al·ized, adjective
un·ra·tion·al·ized, adjective
un·ra·tion·al·iz·ing, adjective
COLLAPSE


Although rationalize retains its principal 19th-century senses “to make conformable to reason” and “to treat in a rational manner,” 20th-century psychology has given it the now more common meaning “to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that seem reasonable but actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious causes.” Although the possibility of ambiguity exists, the context will usually make clear which sense is intended.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To rationalize
Example Sentences
  • Because it is diffiult to achieve better integration, the tendency has increasingly become to rationalize the legated status quo.
  • His defenders will rationalize that he only was talking about more recent leaders, not the earlier ones.
  • Of course, they won't vote to do it, and they won't rationalize not doing it.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
rationalize or rationalise (ˈræʃənəˌlaɪz)
 
vb
1.  to justify (one's actions, esp discreditable actions, or beliefs) with plausible reasons, esp after the event
2.  psychol to indulge, often unchallenged, in excuses for or explanations of (behaviour about which one feels uncomfortable or guilty)
3.  to apply logic or reason to (something)
4.  to eliminate unnecessary equipment, personnel, or processes from (a group of businesses, factory, etc), in order to make it more efficient
5.  (tr) maths to eliminate one or more radicals without changing the value of (an expression) or the roots of (an equation)
 
rationalise or rationalise
 
vb
 
rationali'zation or rationalise
 
n
 
rationali'sation or rationalise
 
n
 
'rationalizer or rationalise
 
n
 
'rationaliser or rationalise
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

rationalize ra·tion·al·ize (rāsh'ə-nə-līz')
v. ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing, ra·tion·al·iz·es

  1. To make rational.

  2. To devise self-satisfying but false or inconsistent reasons for one's behavior, especially as an unconscious defense mechanism through which irrational acts or feelings are made to appear rational to oneself.


ra'tion·al·i·za'tion (rāsh'ə-nə-lĭ-zā'shən) n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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