1
as in defendable
capable of being defended against physical attack
the pioneers retreated to a defensible hillside to take a stand against the raiders
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justifiable
capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack
there's simply no defensible reason for dropping out of school
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Recent Examples of defensible
The confident claims that the boxer is a woman look even less defensible today.
—
Abigail Anthony, National Review, 4 June 2025
Their sins are ugly — and also defensible, committed out of a need to survive.
—Amanda L. Andrei, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
In essence, the APA requires an executive agency to have defensible reasons for its actions.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2025
With fire danger expected to remain high due to ongoing dry conditions, PNEC encourages residents to prepare now by creating defensible space, planning evacuation routes and staying informed.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensible
Abigail Anthony, National Review, 4 June 2025
Their sins are ugly — and also defensible, committed out of a need to survive.
—Amanda L. Andrei, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
In essence, the APA requires an executive agency to have defensible reasons for its actions.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2025
With fire danger expected to remain high due to ongoing dry conditions, PNEC encourages residents to prepare now by creating defensible space, planning evacuation routes and staying informed.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defensible
justifiable
Adjective
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As ever, prospective investors must carefully consider whether Palantir’s premium valuation is a justifiable bet on the future of AI — or a potential case of pricing perfection in an imperfect world.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Some homicides on the list may be judged by authorities as justifiable.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensible. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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