rationalize
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ra·tion·al·ize
(răsh′ə-nə-līz′)v. ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing, ra·tion·al·iz·es
v. tr.
1. To explain rationally: "Philosophy ... is essentially the endeavor of the human mind to rationalize the universe" (Francis E. Abbot).
2.
a. To attempt to justify (one's behavior) by providing reasons that obscure one's actual motives: rationalized cheating on his taxes as being a form of political protest.
b. To dismiss or minimize the significance of (something) by means of an explanation or excuse: "He could not rationalize the loss of some thirty thousand American lives in an unsuccessful war" (Robert Dallek).
3.
a. To make (a business or process, for example) more efficient, as by reducing costs or introducing modern methods.
b. To terminate the employment of (workers) in an effort to improve efficiency.
4. Mathematics To remove radicals, such as from a denominator, without changing the value of (an expression) or roots of (an equation).
v. intr.
1. To think in a rational or rationalistic way.
2. To rationalize one's behavior.
ra′tion·al·iz′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
rationalize
(ˈræʃənəˌlaɪz) orrationalise
vb
1. to justify (one's actions, esp discreditable actions, or beliefs) with plausible reasons, esp after the event
2. (Psychology) 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. (Commerce) to eliminate unnecessary equipment, personnel, or processes from (a group of businesses, factory, etc), in order to make it more efficient
5. (Mathematics) (tr) maths to eliminate one or more radicals without changing the value of (an expression) or the roots of (an equation)
ˌrationaliˈzation, ˌrationaliˈsation n
ˈrationalˌizer, ˈrationalˌiser n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ra•tion•al•ize
(ˈræʃ ə nlˌaɪz, ˈræʃ nl-)v. -ized, -iz•ing. v.t.
1. to ascribe (one's actions) to causes that seem reasonable but do not reflect true, unconscious, or less creditable causes.
2. to make conformable to reason.
3. Math. to eliminate radicals from (an equation or expression): to rationalize the denominator of a fraction.
v.i. 4. to invent plausible explanations for actions that are actually based on less acceptable causes.
5. to employ reason.
[1810–20]
ra`tion•al•i•za′tion, n.
ra′tion•al•iz`er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
rationalize
Past participle: rationalized
Gerund: rationalizing
| Imperative |
|---|
| rationalize |
| rationalize |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | rationalize - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" plead - offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity" |
| 2. | rationalize - weed out unwanted or unnecessary things; "We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet" do away with, eliminate, get rid of, extinguish - terminate, end, or take out; "Let's eliminate the course on Akkadian hieroglyphics"; "Socialism extinguished these archaic customs"; "eliminate my debts" | |
| 3. | rationalize - structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits" | |
| 4. | rationalize - think rationally; employ logic or reason; "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize" | |
| 5. | rationalize - remove irrational quantities from; "This function can be rationalized" math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
rationalize
verb
1. justify, excuse, account for, vindicate, explain away, make allowance for, make excuses for, extenuate It's easy to rationalize gambling.
2. reason out, resolve, think through, elucidate, apply logic to an attempt to rationalize my feelings
3. streamline, trim, slim down, make more efficient, make cuts in, make cutbacks in, reduce wastage in They have been unable or unwilling to modernize and rationalize the business.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
rationalize
verb1. To show to be just, right, or valid:
Idiom: make a case for.
2. To offer reasons for or a cause of:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
järkeistääjärkiperäistäärationaalistaarationalisoida
rationalize
[ˈræʃnəlaɪz] VT1. [+ ideas etc] → racionalizar
2. (= reorganize) [+ industry etc] → reconvertir, reorganizar
3. (Math) → quitar los radicales a, racionalizar
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
rationalize
[ˈræʃənəlaɪz] rationalise (British) vt [+ feelings] → rationaliser; [+ conduct, behaviour] → rationaliser
(British) (COMMERCE) [+ company, industry] → rationaliser
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
rationalize
vt
event, conduct etc → rationalisieren; problem → vernünftig sehen or betrachten
(= organize efficiently) industry, production, work → rationalisieren
vi → rationalisieren
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
rationalize
[ˈræʃnəˌlaɪz] vta. (action, attitude) → (cercare di) spiegare razionalmente
b. (reorganize, industry) → razionalizzare
c. (Math) → razionalizzare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
rationalize
vt, vi (psych) racionalizarEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.