動詞 rationalize:

1. defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
   同義詞：apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalise
2. weed out unwanted or unnecessary things
   同義詞：cut, prune, rationalise
3. structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results
   同義詞：rationalise
4. think rationally; employ logic or reason
   同義詞：rationalise
5. remove irrational quantities from
   同義詞：rationalise

1. He's constantly rationalizing.
   他總是不斷反省是否言行合理。
2. She rationalized her decision to abandon her baby by saying she could not afford to keep it.
   她為拋棄嬰兒事辯稱自己撫養(yǎng)不起。

ra.tion.al.ize

v.（動詞）
ra.tion.al.ized,ra.tion.al.iz.ing,ra.tion.al.iz.es
v.tr.（及物動詞）
To make rational.
使合理，理性化
To interpret from a rational standpoint.
闡釋：從理性角度出發(fā)進(jìn)行解釋
To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for (one`s behavior).
文過飾非：（為自己的行為）編造出一個(gè)自己滿意但實(shí)際上錯(cuò)誤的借口
Mathematics To remove radicals without changing the value of (an expression) or roots of (an equation).
【數(shù)學(xué)】 給…消根：去掉表達(dá)式或方程中的根號，但不改變表達(dá)式的值或方程的根
Chiefly British To bring modern, efficient methods to (an industry, for example).
【多用于英國】 合理化改革：將現(xiàn)代化的高效率的方法（引入到例如工業(yè)等事業(yè)中）
v.intr.（不及物動詞）
To think in a rational or rationalistic way.
作理性思考：用符合邏輯或經(jīng)過合理化后的方法進(jìn)行思考
To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for one`s behavior.
自圓其說：制造一個(gè)自我滿意，但實(shí)際上錯(cuò)誤的理由為自己的行為辯護(hù)

【引伸】
ra.tionaliz.er
n.（名詞）