rationalize vs plead

rationalize and plead both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
rationalize	No	No	Yes	No
plead	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, plead is a hyponym of rationalize; that is, plead is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than rationalize:

Other hyponyms of rationalize include color, colour, gloss, extenuate, mitigate, palliate.

rationalize (verb)	plead (verb)
weed out unwanted or unnecessary things	appeal or request earnestly
remove irrational quantities from	enter a plea, as in courts of law
think rationally; employ logic or reason	offer as an excuse or plea
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning	make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts
structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results