Justify
Justify verb - To be an acceptable reason for.
Usage example: you seem to think that losing a basketball game justifies a temper tantrum
Rationalize is a synonym for justify in account topic. In some cases you can use "Rationalize" instead a verb "Justify", when it comes to topics like right, explain, account for, legitimize. popular alternative
Rationalize
Rationalize verb - To give the reason for or cause of.
Usage example: rationalized his decision to buy the new car by noting that it was more fuel efficient than his old vehicle
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Synonyms for Rationalize
Justify is a synonym for rationalize in account topic. You can use "Justify" instead a verb "Rationalize", if it concerns topics such as right, explain, account for. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- pardon and justify
- pardon and rationalize
- warrant and justify
- warrant and rationalize
- account and justify
- account and rationalize
- support and justify
- support and rationalize
- condone and justify
- condone and rationalize
- absolve and justify
- absolve and rationalize
- excuse and justify
- excuse and rationalize
Common collocations
| work | justify work | rationalize work |
| action | justify action | rationalize action |
| lack | justify lack | rationalize lack |
| name | justify name | rationalize name |
| Other words: treatment, presence, appearance, murder, time, fact, use, way, characters, decision, actions, killing, genocide, existence, behavior, acts, crimes. | ||
Both words in one sentence
-
She is, however, not totally without moral reflection, as she tries on several occasions to justify or rationalize her behavior.
Source: Literature / Carmilla -
Hypocrite: The townsfolk find it increasingly easy to rationalize and justify their increasingly exploitative and abusive treatment of Grace.
Source: Film / Dogville - And while some of them use it to justify truly Jerkass behavior (or rather, rationalize the jerkass thing they want to do with a religious excuse), most of them are shown struggling with their faith at one point or another, even the Alpha Bitch.
Source: Holier Than Thou
Cite this Source
Rationalize and Justify. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/justify/rationalize
Justify & Rationalize. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/justify/rationalize>.
Rationalize or Justify. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/justify/rationalize.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "justify" and "rationalize" have occurred on timeline