Rationally
What it means
With clear reason and sound judgment.
Reach for it when describing thought or action guided by reasons and evidence rather than impulse
They discussed the setback rationally and agreed on a new approach.
Words to choose between 8
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| professional |
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| formal |
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everyday
Fits when the absence of haste or impulse matters
Careful Deliberation does not guarantee sound reasoning.
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everyday
Fits when sound judgment and fairness both matter
Careful Reasonably can also mean only moderately, which may blur the point.
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everyday
Fits when practical good judgment is more important than formal logic
Careful Sensibly may rely on convention rather than explicit reasons.
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professional
analytically
Fits when breaking evidence into parts is the method
Careful Analysis can be careful without producing a rational decision.
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professional
Fits when the steps of an argument follow clearly
Careful Logic alone does not ensure the premises are realistic or fair.
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professional
Fits when limiting personal bias is central
Careful Complete objectivity is a stronger claim than rational thought.
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formal
coherently
Fits when ideas fit together intelligibly
Careful A coherent case can still rest on false evidence.
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formal
Fits when wise selection among options deserves praise
Careful Judiciously implies good judgment, not merely a rational process.
Opposites 3
- irrationally
- impulsively
- illogically
Common phrases 3
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think rationally
The committee tried to think rationally despite the alarming first estimate.
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act rationally
She continued to act rationally while the technicians checked the warning.
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respond rationally
A clear checklist helped everyone respond rationally to the outage.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated