CEFR C1

rationalized

verb

Meaning

Attempted to justify questionable behavior or beliefs with logical-sounding excuses to avoid feelings of guilt or embarrassment.

Examples

She rationalized her decision to quit the team by claiming that the practice schedule was interfering with her academic performance.
He rationalized his repeated lateness by arguing that the city's traffic patterns were entirely unpredictable.

Synonyms: excused, justified, defended, vindicated

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rationalized (C1)

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈræʃ.ən.əl.aɪzd/

Definition

Attempted to justify questionable behavior or beliefs with logical-sounding excuses to avoid feelings of guilt or embarrassment.

Examples

She rationalized her decision to quit the team by claiming that the practice schedule was interfering with her academic performance.
He rationalized his repeated lateness by arguing that the city's traffic patterns were entirely unpredictable.
The company rationalized the layoffs as a strategic move to ensure long-term financial stability.

Synonyms of rationalized

Words with a similar meaning to rationalized:

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