Synonyms

rationally

American

[rash-uh-nl-ee, rash-nl-] / ˈræʃ ə nl i, ˈræʃ nl- /

adverb

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

Etymology

Origin of rationally

rational ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The public, quite rationally, tends to assign blame to the party in power.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

It’s a formula that expresses uncertainty in terms of probability, rationally updating prior beliefs and reducing uncertainty based on observed evidence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

“While we envision a future where space-based data centers become physically feasible, they currently remain rationally improbable,” Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani wrote in a note to clients Thursday morning.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

That is the only way that rationally, the rest of the world can regard this president.

From Slate • Nov. 3, 2025

A plate of eggs, a couple sausages, and some fried potatoes later, I felt I could begin to think rationally about my situation.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023