rationally

[rash-uh-nl-ee, rash-nl-]

adverb

1. in a way that is agreeable to and supported by reason; sensibly or logically.

   It’s a bit difficult to explain rationally to your teenager why they are being subjected to a drug test at home.

   Right-brain thinking also includes intuition, which is not understood rationally but is nonetheless highly valued.

Other Word Forms

• antirationally adverb
• hyperrationally adverb
• nonrationally adverb
• overrationally adverb
• quasi-rationally adverb
• transrationally adverb
• ultrarationally adverb
• unrationally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rationally¹

rational ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

I have an angry fire inside of me and every time I want to speak with him rationally, I just get so mad, and I withdraw.

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Since the racist cannot justify their views rationally, instead they blame God, who is conveniently never around to answer questions.

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On Thursday, Mrs Justice Eady said she was satisfied the steps taken by the CQC were "rationally focused" and it had "patient safety foremost in mind" when it assessed the clinic.

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His central argument was that individuals acting independently and rationally according to their own self-interest behave contrary to the whole group’s long-term best interests by depleting or spoiling the shared resource.

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Delivering the judgment rejecting the application for a judicial review, Lady Justice Whipple, sitting with Mr Justice Johnson, said the secretary of state had acted rationally.

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Related Words

• intelligently www.thesaurus.com
• judiciously 
• logically 
• reasonably www.thesaurus.com
• wisely