1
as in intelligent
having the ability to reason
human beings are rational creatures
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in logical
according to the rules of logic
insisted there was a rational explanation for the strange creaking noises and that there were no such things as ghosts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reasonable
based on sound reasoning or information
betting all of your savings on the lottery is not a rational move
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rational
In the process, Brooks observes, story has eclipsed rational argument as the dominant purveyor of social, political, and historical truths.
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Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Common Tactics and Themes Vyazovoy explained that many scams rely on basic social engineering—creating a sense of urgency to bypass rational thinking.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The alliance emphasizes that climate emotions — anxiety, grief, even rage — are not pathologies but rational responses to a destabilized world.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Batch was trying to be rational but was often swayed by Buzz's mesmerizing touting.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rational
Adjective
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Caterpillar’s intelligent product lineup spans core construction and earthmoving equipment, along with connected site systems.—
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Conversely, if these foundations can be reinforced, even partially, the intelligent age may yet fulfil its promise of progress.—
Adjective
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Harbaugh seemed like a logical candidate, but Miami’s hiring of Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager — and not longtime Harbaugh colleague Chad Alexander — makes that fit less obvious.—
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Because those employees are in turn often availing themselves of Medi-Cal, Elhawary said, lawmakers see a logical path to taxing their employers in order to support the healthcare system at large.—
Adjective
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That said, reasonable preparation can help even those familiar with international payment systems avoid high fees, long waits and general confusion.—
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That’s understandable and reasonable, and fans have every right to express their fandom through frustration when teams don’t live up to expectations.—
Adjective
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The dispute was over timing and risk, not over whether these freedoms were coherent or desirable.—
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At a time when death metal bands are experimenting with new age and hardcore bands are embracing pop, Agriculture stand out by making their genre agnosticism feel proudly coherent, like these sounds were always meant to coexist.—
Adjective
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The ledger is the foundation of reasoned conclusion.—
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The differences between any given Grokipedia and Wikipedia entry are in some sense hard to debate because there is no shared ground upon which to have a reasoned disagreement; to gravitate toward Grokipedia is to leave the world of evidence for that of belief.—
Adjective
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Humor can release the writer from values of the past, along with judgment and disapproval, and instead, humor can become the very conduit for re-thinking events.—
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Nibert loved the free-thinking spirit of the village and its college.—
Adjective
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However, Navajo officials have raised concerns that federal agents haven’t consistently recognized these documents as valid and could still detain tribal members.—
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Munoz-Guatemala was also convicted of driving without a valid license and was charged multiple times for driving illegally.—
Adjective
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For families While certain areas of Zash feel distinctly grown-up, the citrus groves are hide-and-seek heaven, the pool is open enough to keep one eye on a brood with the other on a glass of Donna Fugata, and a sensible approach to timings makes the restaurant fair game too.—
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Neither side wants to blink, and that’s a sensible M&A strategy — whoever talks first generally loses.—
Cite this Entry
“Rational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rational. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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