rationalizes
Makes excuses for
Rationalizes means to devise self-serving explanations for behavior or beliefs.
Someone who rationalizes constructs reasons that sound logical but serve mainly to justify what they wanted to do anyway: He rationalizes his drinking by saying it helps him relax.
The word carries a note of self-deception—the rationalizer may believe their own justifications.
In a neutral sense, to rationalize can mean to make something more efficient or logical: The company rationalized its supply chain.
Makes something understandable
- validatesConfirms accuracy or legitimacy
- vindicatesProves innocence or correctness
- legitimizesMakes officially acceptable
- defendsActs to protect
excuses · accounts · argues · supports · upholds · warrants · substantiates · reasons
Refusal to accept reality
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- cognitive dissonanceDiscomfort from contradictory beliefs
- compartmentalizationDivision into distinct sections
minimization · distortion · whitewash · self-justification · blind spot · motivated reasoning · confirmation bias · disavowal
Examines in detail
- deducesReaches by reasoning
- infersDerives by reasoning
- concludesBrings to an end
- deliberatesThinks carefully before deciding
evaluates · assesses · works out · figures · calculates · reasons out · systematizes · intellectualizes
Makes as effective as possible
- simplifiesMakes less complex
- systematizesArranges according to method
- standardizesMakes uniform or consistent
- modernizesMakes new again
reorganizes · restructures · consolidates · economizes · downsizes · automates · overhauls · revamps
explains
Makes something understandable
- validatesConfirms accuracy or legitimacy
- vindicatesProves innocence or correctness
- legitimizesMakes officially acceptable
defends · excuses · accounts · argues · supports · upholds · warrants · substantiates · reasons · apologizes
denial
Refusal to accept reality
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- cognitive dissonanceDiscomfort from contradictory beliefs
compartmentalization · minimization · distortion · whitewash · self-justification · blind spot · motivated reasoning · confirmation bias · disavowal · evasion
analyzes
Examines in detail
deliberates · evaluates · assesses · works out · figures · calculates · reasons out · systematizes · intellectualizes · theorizes
optimizes
Makes as effective as possible
- simplifiesMakes less complex
- systematizesArranges according to method
- standardizesMakes uniform or consistent
modernizes · reorganizes · restructures · consolidates · economizes · downsizes · automates · overhauls · revamps · reengineers
rationalizesadmits
Allows entrance or confesses
acknowledges · confesses · owns up · comes clean · accepts
rationalize, rationalization, rationalizing, rationalized, rationalizer, rationalizers