rationalize

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.

Dahlia Lithwick: There is a very human propensity, especially in times of crisis, to normalize and rationalize and temporize.

From Slate • Dec. 17, 2025

In contrast, Netflix has nothing comparable to Warner’s studio infrastructure to protect and no redundant operations to rationalize.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

They rationalize this otherwise contradictory behavior by telling themselves that even though the bubble assets they’re investing in are grossly overvalued, they will know when to get out — just before the bubble bursts.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 8, 2025

“We cannot rationalize why Palantir is the most expensive name in our software coverage,” analysts wrote.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

Oppenheimer duly contrived “an elegant theory to rationalize these results,” and when Bohr came for his visit, the work was trotted out for him as a showpiece of Rad Lab science.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik