Meaning of RATIONALIZE
| Pronunciation: | | 'rashu`nlIz
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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- [v] weed out unwanted or unnecessary things; "We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet"
- [v] remove irrational qualities from, as in math; "This function can be rationalized"
- [v] think rationally; employ logic or reason; "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize"
- [v] defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
- [v] structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits"
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| | Synonyms: | | apologise, apologize, cut, excuse, justify, prune, rationalise, rationalise, rationalise, rationalise |
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| | See Also: | | alter, bring down, cerebrate, change, cogitate, color, colour, curb, curtail, cut back, cut down, cut out, defend, do away with, eliminate, extenuate, fend for, get rid of, gloss, mitigate, organise, organize, palliate, plead, reduce, restrict, support, think, trim, trim back, trim down | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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\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.
\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.
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