rationalize
1. [ verb ] defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
Synonyms: justify excuse apologise rationalise apologize
Examples:

"rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior" "he rationalized his lack of success"

Related terms: defend plead extenuate color justification apology rationalization apologist apology justification
2. [ verb ] weed out unwanted or unnecessary things
Synonyms: prune rationalise cut
Examples:

"We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet"

Related terms: eliminate reduce restrict cut_out
3. [ verb ] think rationally; employ reason
Synonyms: rationalise
Examples:

"When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize"

Related terms: think systematization
4. [ verb ] structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results
Synonyms: rationalise
Examples:

"We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits"

Related terms: organize systematization
5. [ verb ] remove irrational qualities from, as in math
Synonyms: rationalise
Examples:

"This function can be rationalized"

Related terms: change mathematics
Similar spelling:   rational
  rationalise
  rationale
  rationality
  rationalist
  rationalism
  rationalness
  rationally
  rationalistic