rationalize (redirected from rationalised)

ra·tion·al·ize  (rsh-n-lz)

v. ra·tion·al·ized, ra·tion·al·iz·ing, ra·tion·al·iz·es

v.tr.

1. To make rational.

2. To interpret from a rational standpoint.

3. To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for (one's behavior): "Many shoppers still rationalize luxury purchases as investments" (Janice Castro).

4. Mathematics To remove radicals, such as from a denominator, without changing the value of (an expression) or roots of (an equation).

5. Chiefly British To bring modern, efficient methods to (an industry, for example).

v.intr.

1. To think in a rational or rationalistic way.

2. To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for one's behavior.

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ration·al·izer n.

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rationalize or -ise

Verb

[-izing, -ized] or -ising, -ised

1. to find reasons to justify or explain (one's actions)

2. to apply logic or reason to (something)

3. to get rid of unnecessary equipment or staff to make (a business) more efficient

rationalization
-isation n

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" apologise, apologize, rationalise, justify, excuse colour, gloss, color - give a deceptive explanation or excuse for; "color a lie" plead - offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity" defend, fend for, support - argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike" extenuate, mitigate, palliate - lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; "The circumstances extenuate the crime"
	2.	rationalize - weed out unwanted or unnecessary things; "We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet" prune, rationalise, cut 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" rationalise organize, organise - cause to be structured or ordered or operating according to some principle or idea
	4.	rationalize - think rationally; employ logic or reason; "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize" rationalise cerebrate, cogitate, think - use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments; "I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere"
	5.	rationalize - remove irrational quantities from; "This function can be rationalized" rationalise math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"

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rationalize

verb 1. justify, excuse, account for, vindicate, explain away, make allowances for, make excuses for, extenuate

verb 2. reason out, resolve, think through, elucidate, apply logic to

verb 3. streamline, trim, make more efficient, make cuts in

Translations

rationalize [ˈræʃnəlaɪz] vt (= reorganize) [+ industry] → racionalizar

rationalize [ˈræʃnəlaɪz] vt → rationaliser [+ conduct]; essayer d'expliquer or de motiver

rationalize [ˈræʃnəlaɪz] rational vt (see n) → rechtfertigen, rationalisieren

rationalize [ˈræʃnəlaɪz] vt → razionalizzare