to justify (one's actions, esp discreditable actions, or beliefs) with plausible reasons, esp after the event

to indulge, often unchallenged, in excuses for or explanations of (behaviour about which one feels uncomfortable or guilty)

to apply logic or reason to (something)

to eliminate unnecessary equipment, personnel, or processes from (a group of businesses, factory, etc), in order to make it more efficient

to eliminate one or more radicals without changing the value of (an expression) or the roots of (an equation)