Adjacent Words

rationalize definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" [syn: apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize, rationalise]
2: weed out unwanted or unnecessary things; "We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet" [syn: cut, prune, rationalize, rationalise]
3: structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits" [syn: rationalize, rationalise]
4: think rationally; employ logic or reason; "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize" [syn: rationalize, rationalise]
5: remove irrational quantities from; "This function can be rationalized" [syn: rationalize, rationalise]

Merriam Webster's

verb (-ized; -izing) Date: 1803 transitive verb 1. to bring into accord with reason or cause something to seem reasonable: as a. to substitute a natural for a supernatural explanation of <rationalize a myth> b. to attribute (one's actions) to rational and creditable motives without analysis of true and especially unconscious motives <rationalized his dislike of his brother>; broadly to create an excuse or more attractive explanation for <rationalize the problem> 2. to free (a mathematical expression) from irrational parts <rationalize a denominator> 3. to apply the principles of scientific management to (as an industry or its operations) for a desired result (as increased efficiency) intransitive verb to provide plausible but untrue reasons for conduct • rationalizable adjective • rationalization noun • rationalizer noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. (also -ise) 1 a tr. offer or subconsciously adopt a rational but specious explanation of (one's behaviour or attitude). b intr. explain one's behaviour or attitude in this way. 2 tr. make logical and consistent. 3 tr. make (a business etc.) more efficient by reorganizing it to reduce or eliminate waste of labour, time, or materials. 4 tr. (often foll. by away) explain or explain away rationally. 5 tr. Math. clear of surds. 6 intr. be or act as a rationalist. Derivatives: rationalization n. rationalizer n.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rationalize Ra"tion*al*ize, v. i. To use, and rely on, reason in forming a theory, belief, etc., especially in matters of religion: to accord with the principles of rationalism. Theodore . . . is just considered the chief rationalizing doctor of antiquity. --J. H. Newman.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rationalize Ra"tion*al*ize, v. t. 1. To make rational; also, to convert to rationalism. 2. To interpret in the manner of a rationalist. 3. To form a rational conception of. 4. (Alg.) To render rational; to free from radical signs or quantities.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(rationalizes, rationalizing, rationalized) Note: in BRIT, also use 'rationalise' 1. If you try to rationalize attitudes or actions that are difficult to accept, you think of reasons to justify or explain them. He further rationalized his activity by convincing himself that he was actually promoting peace... VERB: V n 2. When a company, system, or industry is rationalized, it is made more efficient, usually by getting rid of staff and equipment that are not essential. (mainly BRIT BUSINESS) The network of 366 local offices is being rationalised to leave the company with 150 to 200 larger branch offices. = streamline VERB: usu passive, be V-ed • rationalization ...the rationalization of the textile industry.

Moby Thesaurus

account, account for, adjust, allegorize, analyze, apply reason, argue insincerely, arrange, calculate, cast, chart, clarify, clear, clear up, codify, concert, contrive, coordinate, crack, cry sour grapes, cut out, decipher, deduce, demonstrate, demythologize, design, destigmatize, devise, distort, do justice to, elucidate, enlighten, euhemerize, exculpate, excuse, exemplify, explain, explain away, explicate, exposit, expound, figure, fix, forecast, frame, generalize, give reason for, give the meaning, harmonize, hypothesize, illuminate, illustrate, infer, intellectualize, intend, justify, lay plans, logicalize, logicize, make a projection, make arrangements, make clear, make plain, methodize, misapply, normalize, organize, paralogize, pervert, philosophize, plan, plan ahead, popularize, prearrange, program, project, provide a rationale, purge, reason, reason ill, reason out, regularize, regulate, rehabilitate, reinstate, restore, routinize, schedule, schematize, set up, settle, shape, shed light upon, show, show how, show the way, simplify, solve, spell out, standardize, syllogize, synchronize, synthesize, systematize, theorize, think through, throw light upon, tune, tune up, unfold, unlock, unravel, use reason, vindicate, warrant, work out, work up