rationalize
I
verb
account for, adduce, analyze, cogitate, construe, excogitate, excuse, explain, explain away, justify, make acceptable, make allowances, make excuses, reason, reconcile, reflect, theorize, think, think logically, vindicate
II
index
comment, deduce, deduct (conclude by reasoning), ponder, reason (conclude)
Burton's Legal Thesaurus.
William C. Burton.
2006