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Glite Dictionary
subrational

subrational

9.6
Happening without thinking, like an automatic feeling or reaction
  • adjective
  • /ˌsʌbˈræʃənl/
translation icon : subracional
  • The value levels include the transrational, the rational, and the subrational which, according to Hodgkinson (1991), can be placed along a continuum (i.e., from "right" to "good").

Examples

  • The subrational aspects of our beliefs often shape our actions more than rational thought.

  • What one "prefers" based upon emotion is the subrational valuation.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The ideas of philosophers concerning the "best" regime would then be relative to and determined by material or subrational forces.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Reason divides men; only subrational sentiment reliably unites them.

    Academic text (1997)

  • I agree with you, g, and I hope I made that clear, but some of the comments, and I believe even the mention of Stockholm syndrome, seem to imply that the idea that death is meaningful does not qualify as rational, lies at a subrational level, instead of taking it, as I believe it deserves to be taken, as an idea that could be right or wrong.

    Blog text (26)

  • Such a view presupposes the possibility of free choice—that is, choosing that is the pure product neither of external forces nor internal but subrational motivating factors, such as sheer desire.

    Academic text (2008)

  • They cannot be reduced to—nor can their intelligible appeal be accounted for exclusively in terms of—emotion, feeling, desire, or other subrational motivating factors.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Many decisions are influenced by subrational feelings that we aren't fully aware of.

  • His choice to stay in the job was driven by subrational fears of uncertainty and change.

Synonyms

subconscious
vssubrational
42 6.1

Thoughts or feelings you are not fully aware of that influence what you do

is below rational thought generally rather than just below awareness
prerational
vssubrational
  • Formal
9.3

Happens before logical thought and comes from instinct or feeling

is located beneath rational thought rather than occurring before it
nonrational
vssubrational
8.6

Not based on clear thinking but on feelings or instinct

is specifically below rational thought rather than simply not based on reason

Antonyms

rational
382 3.8

Based on clear thinking and facts rather than emotion

logical
100 3.9

Able to think clearly and make good choices

How Rational

logical
307 3.8
rational
382 3.8
irrational
192 4.4
subrational
9.6

Surface Forms

subrational positive

Morphology

subrational = rational (transparent) = sub + rational

The meaning is directly derived from the productive prefix 'sub-' (under/less than) combined with the adjective 'rational', so learners who know 'rational' and 'sub-' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Subrational is made of sub- meaning 'under' and rational meaning 'based on reason'. So, subrational describes feelings or reactions that happen 'under' your conscious thinking, like an instant fear or an instinct before you can think.