rationalize

Verb

• defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
  • "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"
  • "he rationalized his lack of success"
• weed out unwanted or unnecessary things
• structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results
  • "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits"
• think rationally; employ logic or reason
  • "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize"
• remove irrational quantities from
  • "This function can be rationalized"
• To make something rational or more rational.
• To justify a discreditable act, or irrational behaviour.
• 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.

Synonyms

apologise, apologize, cut, excuse, justify, prune, rationalise