Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Almost rational.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective of thought, etc. below or not fully rational; almost logical or reasonable.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From sub- +‎ rational.

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Examples

  • Now that it has been established that subrational emotions stand in the way of perfecting the Union envisioned by the Constitution, one might expect to hear a plea for putting anger and resentment aside.

    Change, Hope, Unity and – Grievances 2008

  • He conceived of criticism as a process of empathy, of identification, of something intuitive and even subrational.

    Herder and literary study as Botany 2008

  • Now that it has been established that subrational emotions stand in the way of perfecting the Union envisioned by the Constitution, one might expect to hear a plea for putting anger and resentment aside.

    Stromata Blog: 2008

  • He conceived of criticism as a process of empathy, of identification, of something intuitive and even subrational.

    2008 December 05 | NIGEL BEALE NOTA BENE BOOKS 2008

  • I predict that this kind of bigoted, subrational, unscientific, and dehumanizing thinking will not help anyone.

    Taking "Dictation" 2008

  • I am concerned to rule out certain options - because if they're not ruled out then we have fall into an "anything goes" mentality - for we have removed the very moral norms that would allow people to condemn what Hamas is doing and also prevent people from reigning in subrational feelings of vengeance/destruction/hate which tend to lead to brutal actions.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2008

  • This seems to be a sci-fi version of the Fall: subrational creatures turning against their creators, usually because they have a legitimate grude--being mistreated by their creators and masters, and so on.

    Archive 2008-06-29 papabear 2008

  • This seems to be a sci-fi version of the Fall: subrational creatures turning against their creators, usually because they have a legitimate grude--being mistreated by their creators and masters, and so on.

    Archive 2008-07-01 papabear 2008

  • Tmink: I say that subrational beliefs such as those expressed by the teacher dinosaurs on the ark, etc. are poison.

    "This is extremely rare for a teacher to get this blatantly evangelical." Ann Althouse 2006

  • This would be a collection of subrational bromides and asinine assumptions designed more to please Lynchburg Virginia and not Bellingham Massachusetts.

    The Chimes at Midnight 2005

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