Rationalize

To rationalize means to attempt to explain or justify one's behavior or decisions with logical reasons, often avoiding the true, more emotional reasons. This can also refer to the mathematical process of reformulating an expression to eliminate irrational numbers or fractions from the denominator. Rationalization often reflects a psychological defense mechanism in which individuals provide seemingly reasonable explanations for their actions.

Rationalize meaning with examples

• After receiving a poor performance review, Maria tried to rationalize her shortcomings by saying that her manager was biased against her, thus diverting attention from her own areas for improvement.
• In his speech, the politician attempted to rationalize the controversial policy by framing it as a necessary step for economic stability, despite criticism from his opponents who argued it favored the wealthy.
• The scientist needed to rationalize the unexpected results of the experiment, so she revisited her methodology to ensure there were no errors in her calculations or assumptions, striving for a clearer understanding of the data.
• During the therapy session, John learned to rationalize his feelings of anxiety by identifying the root causes, recognizing they stemmed from past experiences rather than current events, helping him cope better.
• As a student, Lucy found herself trying to rationalize her decision to drop a class by pointing to her heavy schedule, although she secretly regretted not challenging herself to stay enrolled.