1. attempted to explain or justify (one's or another's behavior or attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate
Usage: past tense of rationalize
2. reorganized (a process or system) so as to make it more logical and efficient
Usage: past tense of rationalize; business context

Examples

• She rationalized her poor performance by blaming the difficult test questions.
• He rationalized his decision to quit by saying the job wasn't challenging enough.
• The company rationalized its production process to reduce costs.
• They rationalized the filing system to make documents easier to find.
• She rationalized her anger toward her friend instead of admitting she was jealous.
• The manager rationalized the workflow to eliminate unnecessary steps.