rationalizeverb
UK usually rationalise uk/ˈræʃ.ən.əl.aɪz/us/ˈræʃ.ən.əl.aɪz/rationalize verb (EXPLAIN)
[ T ] to try to find reasons to explain your behaviour, decisions, etc.:
She rationalized the cost by saying that an expensive carpet would last longer than a cheaper one.
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Thinking and contemplating
- -ly
- agonize over/about sth
- chew
- chew sth over
- chew the cud idiom
- chew your cud idiom
- depth
- joined-up thinking
- lateral thinking
- let me see/let's see idiom
- let's see idiom
- puzzle
- rack
- reflect
- take sth into account idiom
- the thought crosses sb's mind idiom
- think sth out
- think sth over
- think sth through
- worry
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Defining & explaining
rationalize verb (CHANGE)
[ I or T ] to make a company, way of working, etc. more effective, usually by combining or stopping particular activities, or (of a company, way of working, etc.) to become more effective in this way:
We rationalized the production system so that one operator could control all three machines.
The recession is forcing the company to rationalize.
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Managing and organizing
- act
- administer
- administration
- bureaucracy
- bureaucratic
- campaign
- have sth in hand idiom
- head sth up
- in hand idiom
- kaizen
- manage
- management
- restructure
- run the show idiom
- running
- shakedown
- square
- square sth/sb away
- stage
- stage-manage
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Making things better
rationalization
noun [ C or U ] UK usually rationalisation uk/ˌræʃ.ən.əl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/us/ˌræʃ.ən.əl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
This is just a convenient rationalization for something you wanted to do anyway.