rationalize

rationalize Definition

ra·tion·al·ize (ras̸h′ən ə līz′)

transitive verb -·ized′, -·iz′·ing

to make rational; make conform to reason
to explain or interpret on rational grounds
Chiefly Brit. to apply modern methods of efficiency to (an industry, agriculture, etc.)
Math. to remove the radical signs from (an expression) without changing the value
Psychol. to devise superficially rational, or plausible, explanations or excuses for (one's acts, beliefs, desires, etc.), usually without being aware that these are not the real motives

intransitive verb

rationalize Related Forms

ra′·tion·ali·za′·tion noun ra′·tion·al·iz′er noun

rationalize Synonyms

rationalize Usage Examples

Object

system: Diageo also wanted to upgrade and rationalize core information systems and integrate back-office services.
mcbride: Against catastrophes not or codec to me quot rationalizes mcbride.
number: By rationalizing the number of these specialty fuels, ExxonMobil and other companies could bring fuels to market more efficiently and cost effectively.
policy: Graham herself rationalized this policy in a speech she gave at CIA headquarters in 1988.
act: We hear about sacrifice to the gods only when the boy's parents rationalize the act to him.
anything: Science can rationalize anything with the rules they enforce randomly.

Used with why or when

why: Was the testing to provide the final ammunition to rationalize why Herb no longer belonged with his ' typical ' peers?
what: The judge said almost every killer who had stood before him rationalized what he had done.

Modifying Another Word

not: Formal equality of opportunity as characterized in this entry would not rationalize this legal policy.
away: In an effort to " do the deal " significant warning signs are frequently overlooked, disregarded, or rationalized away.
just: I'm just rationalizing that my OE harness will do fine for now.
n't: And I do n't rationalize this away by saying the public are " sheep " .
then: The surfaces were then rationalized in CATIA to achieve repetition without sacrificing form.

Followed by an intransitive particle

away: But if the terminology is arbitrary, we still cannot rationalize away our sense of truth and correctness is this manner.

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