· defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
Synonym(s): apologize, excuse, rationalize, rationalise
Hypernym(s): defend, support, fend_for
· acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing; "I apologized for being late"; "He apologized for the many typoes"
Synonym(s): apologize