as in unacceptable
too bad to be excused or justified
the city's lack of preparedness for a major natural disaster was utterly indefensible
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Recent Examples of indefensible
This idea, presented as a somewhat inane gesture of pragmatic engagement, instead provoked strong opposition from world leaders, who condemned it as both strategically misguided and morally indefensible.
—
Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Comments Chrissy Teigen has been a part of her fair share of controversies over the years, including an indefensible online bullying scandal.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 11 Feb. 2025
By selecting a case where the underlying policy is widely considered legally indefensible, the Court may be trying to isolate the injunction issue from the merits of Trump’s executive order.
—Nik Popli, Time, 14 May 2025
That someone would appropriate her best friend’s saga of wartime survival is clearly indefensible.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for indefensible
Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Comments Chrissy Teigen has been a part of her fair share of controversies over the years, including an indefensible online bullying scandal.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 11 Feb. 2025
By selecting a case where the underlying policy is widely considered legally indefensible, the Court may be trying to isolate the injunction issue from the merits of Trump’s executive order.
—Nik Popli, Time, 14 May 2025
That someone would appropriate her best friend’s saga of wartime survival is clearly indefensible.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for indefensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indefensible
Adjective
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In his short stint in Scranton, that number has come down a hair, but still resides at an unacceptable 29.4%.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Mistakes should not be viewed as failures or unacceptable setbacks, but rather as calculated risks—necessary steps in the iterative journey of progress.—
Davide Sartini,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Claude, valued at $61.5 billion, could cost $80–90 billion with market premiums, unjustifiable when licensing suffices.—
Roomy Khan,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
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Iran says talks now ‘unjustifiable’ The sixth round of U.S.-Iran indirect talks planned for Sunday over Iran ’s nuclear program will not take place, mediator Oman said.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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The fact that LeMahieu is on the roster is shocking enough, but this amount of consistent playing time isn't inexcusable for the Yankees.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
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According to Serenity, Humanities Tennessee won’t exist in a few months, if the federal government doesn’t reverse its ridiculous, inexcusable decision to defund the NEH.—
Andrea Williams,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The world is still a familiar one: Patricia Field’s styling ghost haunts every outrageous outfit choice and Carrie’s heels still clack satisfyingly on the sidewalk.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
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For all his outrageous behavior and near-fatal travails, much of Osbourne’s appeal stemmed from his everyman persona as a working-class-hero-turned-multimillionaire who couldn’t believe his good luck.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Conservatives and Republicans in Congress continue to claim that the cost of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits is an insupportable burden on America, so benefits need to be cut, though President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to preserve entitlements like Social Security and Medicare.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Jan. 2025
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There are people of goodwill who think the way out of this insupportable situation lies in the fight for equal democratic rights in a single state for everyone living in the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.—
Michelle Goldberg,
The Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2024
Adjective
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His decision — driven by a misguided attempt to save money — is unforgivable.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
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Crystal Skull is easily Spielberg’s laziest, sloppiest work — even the action sequences seem phoned-in — and it’s filled with unforgivable howlers: Shia LaBeouf’s limp attempt at being a bad boy, Cate Blanchett’s hammy villain, the goddamn fridge scene.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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If Sam is wrong, his journalistic sin is unpardonable.—
Neal B. Freeman,
National Review,
13 May 2025
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Attacking innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Over time, this can create a vicious cycle where poor sleep and chronic anxiety feed into each other, creating a loop that damages your well-being.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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There was a scary moment later in the third quarter when Charlotte’s James Banks III hit Sacramento’s Dylan Cardwell with a vicious elbow to the face.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indefensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indefensible. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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