He tried to rationalize his foolish actions.
Source: tatoeba (298610)
Rationalize
/ˈɹæʃənəlaɪz/
Synonyms for "rationalize" (174 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (35)
Strong matches (52)
Noun(11 words)
disenchantingdownsizingexcusesexcusingexplainingexplanation questionjustify the claimjustifyinglegitimatinglimited justificationlobscuse
distortdo justice toelucidateenlighteneuhemerizeexculpateexcuseexemplifyexplainexplain awayexplicateexpositexpoundextenuatefigurefixforecastframegeneralizegive reason for
Show 11 more words
give the meaninggloss overharmonizehypothesizeilluminateillustrateinferintellectualizeintendjustifylay plans
Verb(9 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (87)
logicalizelogicizemake a projectionmake arrangementsmake clearmake plainmethodizemisapplynormalizeorganizeparalogizepervertphilosophizeplanplan aheadpopularizeprearrangeprogramprojectprovide a rationale
Show 41 more words
purgereasonreason illreason outregularizeregulaterehabilitatereinstaterestoreroutinizescheduleschematizeset upsettleshapeshed light uponshowshow howshow the waysimplifysolvespell outstandardizesyllogizesynchronizesynthesizesystematizetheorizethinkthink throughthrow light upontunetune upunfoldunlockunraveluse reasonvindicatewarrantwork outwork up
Noun(7 words)
Verb(16 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: account, account for, accounted, adjust, allegorize.
- Sentence evidence is available for rationalize, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "rationalize".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "rationalize"
Keep "rationalize" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "rationalize" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "rationalize", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "rationalize" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesShowing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
9 entriesdata supported rationalepolicy justificationprocess consolidationproduction line rationalizationrationalize complex fractionrationalize denominatorrationalize radical expressiontheoretical justificationworkflow standardization
Collocations
6 entriesrationalize costsrationalize datarationalize denominatorrationalize proceduresrationalize productionrationalize workflow
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
Globalization has gone mad: why transport Spanish cucumbers to exterminate the Northern Germans when half of them live in Mallorca? We need to rationalize all of that and adopt a more solid method of bacterial decontamination.
Source: tatoeba (932494)
Sociopaths rationalize the pain they inflict on others.
Source: tatoeba (9775027)
Sociopaths never feel remorse and they rationalize the pain they inflict on others.
Source: tatoeba (9775028)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "rationalize"?
Closest matches include account, account for, accounted, adjust, allegorize.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "rationalize"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.