Thesaurus results for RATIONALE

rationale

noun

ˌra-shə-ˈnal

Definition of rationale

as in explanation

a statement given to explain a belief or act the rationale for starting the school day an hour later is that kids will supposedly get an extra hour of sleep

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rationale Even if the rationale behind all of those films are understandable in a vacuum, that recap hardly reads like the story of a blue chip IP. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026 That, along with the soldier’s account, raises serious questions about Israel’s rationale for the strikes. — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Nor was there any attempt to explain the rationale for going to war to the American public. — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026 That's part of the rationale behind the new Recover Elements – Destroy Undesirables – Create Energy (REDUCE) project. — David Szondy august 22, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rationale

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationale

Noun

But in Silicon Valley, a different, more sinister explanation for the anti-data center movement has taken hold.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
The most compelling explanation so far comes from Nepal’s hydrology department.

— Milad Haghani, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of explanation

Noun

Salesforce and other software stocks have perked up over the past month, as sentiment around the group improved for a couple of reasons, including a Reuters report on take-private talks involving HR software provider Workday .

— Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
At face value, young men exercising should not be reason to sound the alarms, and yet there is something treacherous about men in their formative years placing physical beauty as the ultimate expression of self-actualization.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of reason

Noun

This turns into a big argument about Issa being a weird little guy, and suddenly there are multiple potential roommate schisms in the house.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Computer science emerged as a distinct academic discipline in the following decades, when the research traditions of math and engineering came together, and arguments about the nature of the new field soon followed.

— Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of argument

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“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationale. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of rationale

noun

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