How to Use rationale in a Sentence

rationale

noun
Definition of rationalenext
Synonyms for rationalenext
  • The rationale that made sense then makes even more sense now.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023
  • Other media had pieces about the rationale for the war: regime change, the threat of weapons of mass destruction.
    — Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2023
  • There is no rationale at this point for having Smart on the court at the expense of Derrick White late in games.
    — Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Apr. 2023
  • His rationale: San Diegans would insist on a winner, and the Italian style was the best means to that end.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2023
  • Haley has clung to that rationale in the face of mounting defeats.
    — USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024
  • The rationale was that the balance of risk and benefits of aspirin might shift as people age.
    — Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 26 July 2023
  • The rationale was that the balance of risks and benefits of aspirin might shift as people age.
    — Emily Baumgaertner, BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2023
  • But that rationale has become harder to sustain as his polling has grown worse and worse.
    — Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2023
  • And that gives Israel the rationale of self-defense, the most ironclad right of either a person or a nation.
    — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2023
  • The chart includes a column to state the rationale for each change, but it’s left blank throughout the entire 22-page document.
    — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2023
  • They were told the matter was private and management would not discuss the rationale with them.
    — Helen Branswell, STAT, 3 Aug. 2023
  • One rationale would be to try to get a broader pool of potential jurors.
    — Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2023
  • The rationale is that more work means more options, and having more options means lower risk.
    — Anna Jankowska, Forbes, 4 May 2023
  • But rather than get bogged down by the news, Adler uses it as a rationale to create an even more trans-specific space.
    — Jack Lancaster, Men's Health, 6 June 2023
  • On Wednesday, Jackson posted a video on X laying out the rationale for his vote.
    — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 15 Mar. 2024
  • Their rationale was due to the fact authorities did not know if the suspect would be found in the United States or Mexico, the source said.
    — Adrienne Vogt, CNN, 3 May 2023
  • But there may be a method to the madness, and a clear rationale, for both Netflix and the other entertainment giants.
    — Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2024
  • The Supreme Court’s rationale pointed to the free exercise clause of the First Amendment, which protects the right to practice any religion.
    — Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 June 2023
  • Price did not explain the rationale for dropping the enhancements.
    — Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024
  • During the mutiny, Prigozhin posted a video blasting the top military brass and the Kremlin’s rationale for the invasion.
    — Dan De Luce, NBC News, 21 July 2023
  • And many experts say the shutdowns don’t work, even judging by the rationale the government uses for them.
    — Time, 15 Aug. 2023
  • The rationale was that he was already given asylum in Sweden.
    — Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 11 June 2023
  • Greenberg cited the growing movement to discredit and distort the truth of the massacre as the rationale for hosting the screening.
    — Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 9 Nov. 2023
  • The rationale for the changes and how responsibilities will be broken up couldn’t be learned.
    — Paresh Dave, WIRED, 31 Jan. 2024
  • That rationale will shape my approach in determining the best player props for this matchup.
    — Michael Arinze, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2023
  • Both authors call for city dwellers to get to know their urban nature better with the rationale that what is good for urban wildlife is good for humans.
    — Kate Brown, Washington Post, 26 June 2023
  • Sexton’s office did not respond to a request for details about the ticketing system, nor the rationale for the change.
    — Dakin Andone, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024
  • The Valentine’s Day and Thursday briefs include a furious back-and-forth about the rationale for moving quickly.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024
  • But each component of the new strategy came with a cold business rationale.
    — Peter Vanham, Fortune Europe, 8 Nov. 2023
  • The Republic's Duane Rankin explains the possible rationale behind the move here.
    — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rationale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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