Verb (used with object) : to rationalize the denominator of a fraction.    From Dictionary.com. 

Verb (used without object) : He tried to prove that he was not at fault, but he was obviously rationalizing.    From Dictionary.com. 

Farmers would have to "rationalise" their labour force even further if labour costs increased.    From Wordnik.com.  [ANC Daily News Briefing] Reference

The government had made no decision to reduce the number of provinces or to "rationalise" them, President Thabo Mbeki told.    From Wordnik.com.  [ANC Daily News Briefing] Reference

Rivals Unilever recenly announced it is to axe its Persil washing up liquid brand as part of a drive to "rationalise" its product range.    From Wordnik.com.  [mad.co.uk : Today's Breaking News] Reference

"rationalise" their labour force even further if labour costs increased.    From Wordnik.com.  [ANC Daily News Briefing] Reference

"rationalise" the fee structure by slashing the cost of entering land-based casinos to Rs. 500.    From Wordnik.com.  [Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7] Reference

We desperately need to rationalise water use in the Ica.    From Wordnik.com.  [How Peru's wells are being sucked dry by British love of asparagus] Reference

rationalise Irgun and you rationalise Hamas. just Louise.    From Wordnik.com.  [On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with...] Reference

But all these we can intellectually finesse, rationalise and redeem.    From Wordnik.com.  [Stephen Fry: The Great Stink of 2005] Reference

A new Act is required which will rationalise the various administrations.    From Wordnik.com.  [RDP White Paper] Reference

The Post Office should reconsider its priorities and rationalise this year.    From Wordnik.com.  [ANC Daily News Briefing] Reference

The company had no choice but to seriously examine ways to rationalise costs.    From Wordnik.com.  [ANC Daily News Briefing] Reference

To attempt to rationalise with such an one was merely to excite the insane part of him.    From Wordnik.com.  [Witch-Doctors] Reference

And to this day I could almost find it in my heart to rationalise and justify my phobia.    From Wordnik.com.  [Surprised by Joy]

For most of the white intelligentsia, colonialism was a project to rationalise and defend.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Native Club and the national democratic project] Reference

"THEY always find some way to rationalise the fact that THEY lost the argument, don't THEY?".    From Wordnik.com.  [On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with...] Reference

There was no point, she thought, in trying to rationalise what had just happened between them.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Count's Blackmail Bargain]

A democratic South Africa will rationalise its armed forces in conformity with its defence needs.    From Wordnik.com.  [READY TO GOVERN] Reference

Often, when we are struck by these images, we tend to rationalise about who might be right or wrong.    From Wordnik.com.  [RESPONSE BY PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA TO THE 1994 PEACE LECTURE OF THE WCRP (SOUTH AFRICAN CHAPTER)] Reference

The rest of your rant is on a similar level: trying to rationalise away the failure of your argument.    From Wordnik.com.  [On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with...] Reference

Every one of the several hundred words he has posted since being an attempt to rationalise that usage.    From Wordnik.com.  [Giving evidence to the Chilcot inquiry, Tony Blair said: “I...] Reference

The establishment of the extensive mechanisms to transform and rationalise the superior court structures.    From Wordnik.com.  [CONSOLIDATED REPORT ON SECTORAL STRATEGIES] Reference

Government must urgently take legislative steps to rationalise High Courts in accordance with the Constitution.    From Wordnik.com.  [TRANSFORMATION OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM] Reference

Threatened people resort to terrorism if they have no other weapons to hand and rationalise their actions accordingly.    From Wordnik.com.  [On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with...] Reference

Skweyiya 'and the Public Service Commission's attempts to rationalise the civil service in line with RDP requirements.    From Wordnik.com.  [THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CALL FOR PRESIDENT MANDELA TO FIRE DR ZOLA SKWEYIYA FROM MINISTERIAL DUTY] Reference

They don't understand her appeal and try to rationalise their discombobulation by claiming she hasn't earned preference.    From Wordnik.com.  [On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with...] Reference

Clearly, there was a need to rationalise: eventually it was decided to abandon any attempt to adopt the Australian system.    From Wordnik.com.  [Chapter 6] Reference

The Department of Health has proposed to rationalise the dispensing of medicines by doctors to improve safety and control.    From Wordnik.com.  [PARLIAMENTARY BULLETIN] Reference

The ANC proposal sought to rationalise the administration of justice and bring the system in line with international norms.    From Wordnik.com.  [ANC Daily News Briefing] Reference

I believe that Durban II will be an attempt to rationalise a "world without Israel" and prepare the world for a nuclear Iran.    From Wordnik.com.  [On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with...] Reference

It will now be possible to rationalise the administrative structures of the former public services into these new structures.    From Wordnik.com.  [ANC Daily News Briefing] Reference

NGC support the current process to transform and rationalise all the aspects of our Court structures and personnel, including.    From Wordnik.com.  [CONSOLIDATED REPORT ON SECTORAL STRATEGIES] Reference

It winds him up if I feel something that he can't rationalise or explain, even though you're not meant to do that with feelings.    From Wordnik.com.  [sheepdip Diary Entry] Reference

Had they created myths and legends to rationalise the city's ill-luck entirely as a result of evil emanating from the Dragon Isle?.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Fortress of the Pearl]

When I gave my now notorious talk to the Royal Irish, I was trying to rationalise for those young men what was going on from my standpoint.    From Wordnik.com.  [Politics live blog - Tuesday 14 September] Reference