rational

adjective

ˈrash-nəl How to pronounce rational (audio)
Definition of rationalnext
1
as in intelligent
having the ability to reason human beings are rational creatures

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rational Falwell championed a vision of America rooted in obedience to biblical authority and conformity with traditional values, placing him in tension with Enlightenment principles like individual rights, rational inquiry, and free thought. — Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026 Often, the conspiracy theories around this case—like most conspiracy theories—are premised on rational questions. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026 If a movie becomes available at home almost immediately, consumers have a rational reason to wait. — Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026 But then again, there's nothing rational about SpaceX's valuation, so who knows. — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rational
  1. intelligent
  2. logical
  3. reasonable
  4. thinking
  5. coherent
  6. reasoned
  7. valid
  8. sensible
Adjective
  • Our hardware-agnostic capabilities expedite industrial adoption of Physical AI, while building the foundation that will support the next generation of intelligent robotic systems, including industrial humanoids.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Xiaomi moves beyond Nvidia Xiaomi’s existing electric vehicles have relied on Nvidia hardware for their intelligent-driving systems.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • Kitchenware, pantry staples and cookbook publishers are the logical next category.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The handle of the pattern is relatively shallow, so from a trading perspective, placing a stop-loss slightly below its lower boundary near 512 provides a logical way to manage risk.
    — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of logical
Adjective
  • Taxpayers may qualify for relief due to a good compliance history, reasonable cause, or a statutory exception.
    — Jamela Adam, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • He’s also pushed to make sure The Gilded Age returned with new seasons as soon as was reasonable (those fancy parties and elaborate sets take time) and is looking to return Game of Thrones spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on an annual basis.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of reasonable
Adjective
  • 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.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
  • Nibert loved the free-thinking spirit of the village and its college.
    — Keith BieryGolick, Cincinnati.com, 28 Aug. 2019
Definition of thinking
Adjective
  • What remains particularly valuable is the integration of code, visual standards, accessibility, content and interaction into a coherent model of how an organization behaves.
    — Goran Paun, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Canada and Mexico will need to make a more coherent and concerted effort to join these campaigns—and the United States will need to work much harder to invite them along.
    — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of coherent
Adjective
  • In layman’s terms, critical thinking is the ability to think independently by questioning claims, weighing evidence, and making reasoned judgments.
    — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • None are credible challengers; Matt Conroy is the more reasoned and moderate of the three.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of reasoned
Adjective
  • Spouses generally inherit a minimum portion of the estate (usually one-third or two-thirds), though the right can be waived in a valid premarital or post marital agreement.
    — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The prosecutor said the number appeared valid but acknowledged the material did not establish an issuance date.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of valid
Adjective
  • Matching queries to documents in the same language feels sensible.
    — Faisal Saeed, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Aries March 21 – April 19 A messy process at work is finally ready for a sensible fix.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sensible

Browse Nearby Words

ration
rational
rationale
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rational. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All