rationalized

• past participle

  past participle

  A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.

  of rationalize.
  rationalize

  verb (used with object)

  to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.
• past tense form

  past tense

  Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.

  of rationalize.
  rationalize

  verb (used with object)

  to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rationalized

These cuts, once made, tend to be rationalized.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

And refining capacity is being rationalized globally, not just in the U.S.

From Barron's ● Jan. 10, 2026

“We rationalized that if this area were to burn, the whole town would burn,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2025

On Thursday, the State Department announced it would review the legal status of immigrants who praised, rationalized or made light of Kirk’s death.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2025

After thinking about it for a while, Bloom rationalized that he did feel some gratitude for not now being obliged to make the radical commitments he had always feared.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• justify