indefensible

adjective

in·​de·​fen·​si·​ble ˌin-di-ˈfen(t)-sə-bəl 

1

a

: incapable of being maintained as right or valid : untenable

b

: incapable of being justified or excused : inexcusable

indefensible comments

2

: incapable of being protected against physical attack

indefensibility

ˌin-di-ˌfen(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

indefensibly

ˌin-di-ˈfen(t)-sə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• unacceptable
• unjustifiable
• inexcusable
• outrageous
• insupportable
• unforgivable
• unpardonable
• unwarrantable
• vicious

Examples of indefensible in a Sentence

The company adopted an indefensible position on the issue.

His behavior is ethically indefensible.

The city is in an indefensible location.

Recent Examples on the Web

Expecting Texans to shoulder this burden on their own while the rest of the country stood idly by would be morally indefensible and undermine the idea of our country as a group of states united. —Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2025

This is where indefensible personal taste comes in. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025

This indefensible action could result in the preventable deaths of thousands of American children. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2025

The impulse to pull away flits through my mind, but pulling away feels indefensible. —Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for indefensible

• compensable
• condensable
• defensible
• dispensable
• extensible
• insensible
• ostensible
• comprehensible
• indispensable
• reprehensible
• supersensible
• incomprehensible

Kids Definition

indefensible

adjective

in·​de·​fen·​si·​ble ˌin-di-ˈfen(t)-sə-bəl 

: impossible to defend

an indefensible position