irrationalize
C1 - Very Low FrequencyFormal, Academic, Technical (Philosophy/Psychology)
Definition
Meaning
To make something irrational; to remove or undermine logical reasoning from something.
To cause a process, system, argument, or emotional state to become devoid of reason or logic, or to justify something based on irrational grounds.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a causative/transitive verb derived from 'irrational'. It implies an active process of removing rationality. It can be used in literal/philosophical contexts about arguments, or metaphorically about emotions and social processes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographic or syntactic differences. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly academic/philosophical. Can carry a negative judgment when applied to discourse or societal trends.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both British and American English. Likely to be encountered almost exclusively in specialized academic texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] irrationalizes [Object] (e.g., The rhetoric irrationalizes the debate).[Object] is irrationalized by [Subject] (Passive voice).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused. Might appear in critical analysis of poor decision-making: 'A culture of fear can irrationalize strategic planning.'
Academic
Primary context. Used in philosophy, critical theory, psychology, and political science to describe the degradation of reasoned discourse.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely. Would sound highly unnatural and pretentious.
Technical
Used in specific philosophical or socio-political analysis to denote a process where rational foundations are eroded.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The philosopher argued that postmodern relativism could irrationalise the very concept of truth.
- He worried the media campaign would irrationalise public debate on the issue.
American English
- The critic accused the author of trying to irrationalize the historical narrative.
- Populist rhetoric often serves to irrationalize complex political discussions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Extreme emotions can irrationalize our thinking.
- The politician's speech seemed designed to irrationalize the argument.
- The theorist's goal was to irrationalize the established canon, exposing its subjective foundations.
- We must guard against ideologies that seek to irrationalize scientific discourse.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'IRRATIONAL' + '-IZE' (to make). To make something irrational.
Conceptual Metaphor
REASON IS A STRUCTURE; to irrationalize is to DEMOLISH or CLOUD that structure. LOGICAL THOUGHT IS LIGHT; to irrationalize is to OBSCURE that light.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'иррационализировать' (a direct calque, but not a common Russian word).
- Not equivalent to 'сводить с ума' (to drive mad). The English word is about logic, not sanity.
- Avoid translating as 'делать неразумным' for people; it's typically used for arguments, processes, or systems.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'He irrationalized' is incorrect; needs an object).
- Confusing it with 'rationalize' (which means to make rational OR to invent a rational-sounding excuse).
- Overusing in general contexts where simpler words like 'confuse' or 'muddle' are appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'to irrationalize' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, academic word. Most native speakers will never use it and may not recognize it.
'Rationalize' primarily means to make logical and efficient OR to invent a plausible but false justification. 'Irrationalize' means to strip away logic or make something irrational.
It is highly unusual. The object is typically an abstract concept like 'debate', 'thought', or 'process'. You would say 'make someone irrational' or 'drive someone mad' instead.
The direct nominalization 'irrationalization' is theoretically possible but exceptionally rare. 'Irrationality' is the standard noun for the state or quality of being irrational.