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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rationale
The article lays out a new framework for approving seasonal COVID-19 vaccines, as well as a rationale for the change—which was made without input from independent advisory committees for the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2025
The rationale from Moody’s echoed familiar concerns: persistent large fiscal deficits, rising entitlement spending and limited political will to rein in debt.
—John Buckingham, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Explaining its rationale for lowering its credit rating on the United States for the first time since 1917, Moody’s cited ballooning US debt levels and Washington’s intransigence over budget deficit solutions.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Comfortable dress shoes are a worthwhile gamble, accenting the tone of the outfit with the rationale of a day spent walking around (sometimes through mud).
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2025
The rationale from Moody’s echoed familiar concerns: persistent large fiscal deficits, rising entitlement spending and limited political will to rein in debt.
—John Buckingham, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Explaining its rationale for lowering its credit rating on the United States for the first time since 1917, Moody’s cited ballooning US debt levels and Washington’s intransigence over budget deficit solutions.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Comfortable dress shoes are a worthwhile gamble, accenting the tone of the outfit with the rationale of a day spent walking around (sometimes through mud).
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rationale
Noun
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The new study, published this month in Psychological Science, offers one explanation about this phenomenon.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
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For music-loving New Yorkers who grew up in the pre-digital age, the title of Jake Sumner’s first feature-length film needs no explanation.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Early reactions to the live-action remake note the film's inclusion of iconic original moments as a key reason for its success.—
Sharareh Drury,
People.com,
26 May 2025
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President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth repeatedly point to Trump's election as a reason for the recruiting rebound.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Yet Vance has for years been picking an argument with the Chief Justice over the legitimacy of federal court orders.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
25 May 2025
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The dynamic may be marked by frequent ruptures, including arguments, silent treatment or emotional withdrawal, followed by sudden closeness, reconciliation or affection.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rationale. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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