rationalize

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

/ ˈræʃ ə nlˌaɪz, ˈræʃ nlˌaɪz /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rationalize ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing.

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), ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing.

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.

Also especially British, ra·tion·al·ise .

Origin of rationalize

First recorded in 1810–20; rational + -ize

usage note for rationalize

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM rationalize

ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, nounra·tion·al·iz·er, nounnon·ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, nounnon·ra·tion·al·ized, adjective

o·ver·ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, nouno·ver·ra·tion·al·ize, verb, o·ver·ra·tion·al·ized, o·ver·ra·tion·al·iz·ing.sem·i·ra·tion·al·ized, adjectiveun·ra·tion·al·ized, adjectiveun·ra·tion·al·iz·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for rationalize

No, this is a victory for corporate greed digging its claws into whatever façade of a rationalization it can get within its grasp.
Hobby Lobby: Sex, Lies, and Craft Supplies|Sally Kohn|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the same time, there are those who ricochet between denial and rationalization.
The Mayor McCrack Show|Jonathan Goldsbie|November 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But that sort of rationalization may be better tackled by psychologists than the justices of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Supports Monsanto in Patent Dispute|Paul Campos|May 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But the scapegoat is convenient—and the rationalization is complacent.
The Catholic Church Is Insular and Intolerant|Robert Shrum|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Today she has a much different perspective, calling that decision many years ago “all justification and rationalization.”
Rapists, Beware: Detroit Prosecutor IDs 21 Attackers in ‘Rape Kit’ Investigation|Abigail Pesta|August 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
You can become entangled with rationalization so easily when you want the facts to fit a particular theory.
A Practical Guide to Self-Hypnosis|Melvin Powers
Awareness gives rise to reason, reason gives rise to rationalization.
Eight Keys to Eden|Mark Irvin Clifton
Keep going and tell me what your rationalization and thinking was at that time.
Warren Commission (11 of 26): Hearings Vol. XI (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Juristically this seems to be a rationalization of the Roman innominate contract.
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Law|Roscoe Pound
All their early efforts at rationalization failed to excuse the needless hunger, the mass arrests, the arbitrary executions.
Emma Goldman|Charles A. Madison

British Dictionary definitions for rationalize

rationalize

rationalise

/ (ˈræʃənəˌlaɪz) /

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)

Derived forms of rationalize

rationalization or rationalisation, nounrationalizer or rationaliser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for rationalize

rationalize

[ răsh′ə-nə-līz′ ]

v.

To make rational.

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.

Other words from rationalize

ra′tion•al•i•za′tion (-lĭ-zā′shən) n.

单词	rationalize
释义	rationalize [ rash-uh-nl-ahyz, rash-nl-ahyz ] / ˈræʃ ə nlˌaɪz, ˈræʃ nlˌaɪz / SEE SYNONYMS FOR rationalize ON THESAURUS.COM verb (used with object), ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing. 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), ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing. 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. Also especially British, ra·tion·al·ise . Origin of rationalize First recorded in 1810–20; rational + -ize usage note for rationalize 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. OTHER WORDS FROM rationalize ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, nounra·tion·al·iz·er, nounnon·ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, nounnon·ra·tion·al·ized, adjective o·ver·ra·tion·al·i·za·tion, nouno·ver·ra·tion·al·ize, verb, o·ver·ra·tion·al·ized, o·ver·ra·tion·al·iz·ing.sem·i·ra·tion·al·ized, adjectiveun·ra·tion·al·ized, adjectiveun·ra·tion·al·iz·ing, adjective Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for rationalize No, this is a victory for corporate greed digging its claws into whatever façade of a rationalization it can get within its grasp. Hobby Lobby: Sex, Lies, and Craft Supplies\|Sally Kohn\|July 2, 2014\|DAILY BEAST At the same time, there are those who ricochet between denial and rationalization. The Mayor McCrack Show\|Jonathan Goldsbie\|November 1, 2013\|DAILY BEAST But that sort of rationalization may be better tackled by psychologists than the justices of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Supports Monsanto in Patent Dispute\|Paul Campos\|May 16, 2013\|DAILY BEAST But the scapegoat is convenient—and the rationalization is complacent. The Catholic Church Is Insular and Intolerant\|Robert Shrum\|March 8, 2013\|DAILY BEAST Today she has a much different perspective, calling that decision many years ago “all justification and rationalization.” Rapists, Beware: Detroit Prosecutor IDs 21 Attackers in ‘Rape Kit’ Investigation\|Abigail Pesta\|August 28, 2012\|DAILY BEAST You can become entangled with rationalization so easily when you want the facts to fit a particular theory. A Practical Guide to Self-Hypnosis\|Melvin Powers Awareness gives rise to reason, reason gives rise to rationalization. Eight Keys to Eden\|Mark Irvin Clifton Keep going and tell me what your rationalization and thinking was at that time. Warren Commission (11 of 26): Hearings Vol. XI (of 15)\|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy Juristically this seems to be a rationalization of the Roman innominate contract. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Law\|Roscoe Pound All their early efforts at rationalization failed to excuse the needless hunger, the mass arrests, the arbitrary executions. Emma Goldman\|Charles A. Madison British Dictionary definitions for rationalize rationalize rationalise / (ˈræʃənəˌlaɪz) / 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) Derived forms of rationalize rationalization or rationalisation, nounrationalizer or rationaliser, noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Words related to rationalize justify, resolve, excise, vindicate, deliberate, elucidate, extenuate, excuse, reason, think, reconcile, account for, cop out, cop a plea, explain away, intellectualize, make allowance, think through Medical definitions for rationalize rationalize [ răsh′ə-nə-līz′ ] v. To make rational. 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. Other words from rationalize ra′tion•al•i•za′tion (-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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rationalize

verb (used with object), ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing.

verb (used without object), ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing.

Origin of rationalize

usage note for rationalize

OTHER WORDS FROM rationalize

Example sentences from the Web for rationalize

British Dictionary definitions for rationalize

rationalise

verb

Derived forms of rationalize

Words related to rationalize

Medical definitions for rationalize

v.

Other words from rationalize