|
|
ra·tion·al·ize
 rationalize
- pronunciation:
- rae
sh
n
laIz
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
rationalized, rationalizes, rationalizing |
| definition 1: |
to account for (one's behavior, events, or the like) with apparently reasonable, but self-serving, explanations.
She rationalized her shoplifting by telling herself that such a big company wouldn't be hurt by it.- synonyms:
- excuse, justify
- similar words:
- account, defend, explain, gloss, intellectualize, palliate, vindicate
|
| definition 2: |
to revise by removing inconsistencies and illogical content.
- similar words:
- clarify, correct, elucidate, explain, explicate, illuminate, methodize, rectify, systematize
|
| definition 3: |
to provide an explanation for.
- synonyms:
- account, explain
- similar words:
- clarify, delineate, demonstrate, elucidate, explicate
|
| related words: |
excuse, gloss, justify |
| derivations: |
rationalization (n.), rationalizer (n.) |
|
|