rationally

American  

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

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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

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

Would that all issues could be addressed so rationally and dispassionately.

From The Wall Street Journal

He is bitter and scared, and he has lost the ability to reason rationally, if he ever had that ability.

From Salon

“Your brain no longer thinks rationally,” one expert tells the author.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I can rationally understand that I'm in no way to blame, but you feel guilty that my father could do this to someone, and of course, he was unrepentant," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• intelligently
• judiciously
• logically
• reasonably
• wisely