rationalizing
Explaining away behavior
Rationalizing is constructing logical-sounding reasons to justify beliefs, decisions, or behaviors that actually stem from less acceptable motives.
The process works backward—starting with the conclusion and finding arguments to support it: He kept rationalizing his gambling as a form of investment.
In mathematics, rationalizing means eliminating radicals from a denominator.
Offered reason for wrongdoing
- pretextFabricated motive concealing truth
- alibiDefense of location
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- whitewashConceal or coat pale
cop-out · cover-up · dodge · fabrication · dissimulation · sidestep · explaining away · minimizing
Discomfort from contradictory beliefs
- confirmation biasPreferring belief-supporting information
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
magical thinking · distortion · false belief · motivated reasoning · blind spot · mental gymnastics · compartmentalization · willful ignorance
Reason proving rightness
- vindicationClearance of blame
- self-justificationDefending one's own actions
- legitimizationFormal recognition as valid
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
reasoning · argumentation · substantiation · apologia · extenuation · palliation · exculpation · mitigation
Drawing logical conclusions
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- deductionConclusion from premises
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
systematizing · working through · thinking through · making sense of · interpretation · elucidation · clarification · breakdown
Productive without waste
- optimizationMaximizing efficiency or performance
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
- downsizingReducing workforce or scale
- cost-cuttingReducing expenditures deliberately
consolidation · modernization · standardization · simplification · automation · lean · reorganization · trimming
excuse
Offered reason for wrongdoing
whitewash · cop-out · cover-up · dodge · fabrication · dissimulation · sidestep · explaining away · minimizing · deflecting
cognitive dissonance
Discomfort from contradictory beliefs
- confirmation biasPreferring belief-supporting information
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
delusion · magical thinking · distortion · false belief · motivated reasoning · blind spot · mental gymnastics · compartmentalization · willful ignorance · in denial
justification
Reason proving rightness
- vindicationClearance of blame
- self-justificationDefending one's own actions
- legitimizationFormal recognition as valid
validation · reasoning · argumentation · substantiation · apologia · extenuation · palliation · exculpation · mitigation · account
reasoning
Drawing logical conclusions
inference · systematizing · working through · thinking through · making sense of · interpretation · elucidation · clarification · breakdown · dissection
efficiency
Productive without waste
- optimizationMaximizing efficiency or performance
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
- downsizingReducing workforce or scale
cost-cutting · consolidation · modernization · standardization · simplification · automation · lean · reorganization · trimming · economizing
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, contemplate
- excusesexcuse, not my fault, overslept, alibi, excuses
- Excusingjustifying, forgiving, pardoning, condoning, overlooking
- radicalsradical, free radical, free radicals, radicals, square root
- inner thoughtsinner monologue, inner voice, self-talk, internal dialogue, thoughts
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
rationalizingself-examination
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
brutal honesty · self-awareness · acknowledging · coming clean · owning up
rationalizingintellectual honesty
Commitment to truth over ego
truth-seeking · reasoning · critical thinking · logical analysis
rationalizingadmitting fault
Accepting responsibility for wrongdoing
confessing · making amends · self-reproach · repenting · no excuses
reason, rational, ration, irrational, rationale, rationally, rationalize, ratios, rationing