cut, prune, rationalize, rationalise
(verb) weed out unwanted or unnecessary things; “We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet”
rationalize, rationalise
(verb) remove irrational quantities from; “This function can be rationalized”
rationalize, rationalise
(verb) think rationally; employ logic or reason; “When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize”
apologize, apologise, excuse, rationalize, rationalise
(verb) defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; “rationalize the child’s seemingly crazy behavior”; “he rationalized his lack of success”
rationalize, rationalise
(verb) structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; “We rationalized the factory’s production and raised profits”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
rationalize (third-person singular simple present rationalizes, present participle rationalizing, simple past and past participle rationalized)
To make something rational or more rational.
To justify an immoral act, or illogical behaviour. “The process of thought by which one justifies a discreditable act, and by which one offers to oneself and the world a better motive for one's action than the true motive”
(mathematics) To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation.
To structure something along modern, efficient and systematic lines, or according to scientific principles. This often includes eliminating duplication and grouping like or similar items.
• realization
Source: Wiktionary
Ra"tion*al*ize, v. t.
1. To make rational; also, to convert to rationalism.
2. To interpret in the manner of a rationalist.
3. To form a rational conception of.
4. (Alg.)
Definition: To render rational; to free from radical signs or quantities.
Ra"tion*al*ize, v. i.
Definition: To use, and rely on, reason in forming a theory, belief, etc., especially in matters of religion: to accord with the principles of rationalism. Theodore . . . is just considered the chief rationalizing doctor of antiquity. J. H. Newman.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
12 June 2025
(noun) a decrease in the density of something; “a sound wave causes periodic rarefactions in its medium”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
