justified
adjective
jus·ti·fied
ˈjə-stə-ˌfīd 
1
: having or shown to have a just, right, or reasonable basis
a justified punishment
a justified reputation for toughness
Such work calls for a combination of training and talent that few can lay justified claim to …—
Bernard Knox
Bernard Knox2
typography
a
: aligned evenly at the margin
a justified line of text
In justified composition, where the type must be flush with both the left and right margins, the machine will automatically expand or condense the word space or hyphenate end-of-line words to fill up the line measure.—Ray Blair and Thomas M. Destree
Ray Blair and Thomas M. Destree
b
: made even by spacing lines of text
a document with justified margins
Examples of justified in a Sentence
in a well-justified ruling the court voted unanimously to overturn the law
the use of force to capture the armed fugitive was fully justified
Recent Examples on the Web
Supporters argue that Israel's campaign to eliminate Iran's nuclear facilities—including enrichment plants, missile bases, research centers, infrastructure, and oil refineries—is a justified national security measure.
—Felice Friedson, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
For all of the justified excitement and hubbub about Rafael Devers, the loss of an exciting and promising homegrown pitcher is impossible to ignore.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Ukrainian officials framed the latest strike as a justified response to occupation, while Russian sources reported attempts to repel further maritime drone attacks near the site.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Legal experts argue that this is precisely the kind of case where a broad injunction is not only justified but necessary.
—Nik Popli, Time, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for justified
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Felice Friedson, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
For all of the justified excitement and hubbub about Rafael Devers, the loss of an exciting and promising homegrown pitcher is impossible to ignore.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Ukrainian officials framed the latest strike as a justified response to occupation, while Russian sources reported attempts to repel further maritime drone attacks near the site.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Legal experts argue that this is precisely the kind of case where a broad injunction is not only justified but necessary.
—Nik Popli, Time, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for justified
Cite this Entry
“Justified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justified. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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