defendable

adjective

Definition of defendablenext
1
as in defended
capable of being defended against physical attack that nation has long insisted on having borders that it regards as defendable

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justifiable
capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack your thesis had better be defendable for the attacks are going to be withering

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defendable For months the university has been briefing journalists that its appointment system is rigorous and defendable, and that the campaign was targeted against a Black academic because of his race. — Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 Even if maritime regulators demanded shippers purchase more defendable vessels, the crews aboard are unready for the challenge. — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The safe, defendable choice wasn’t necessarily the right one though. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defendable
  1. defended
  2. justifiable
  3. defensible
  4. protected
  5. secured
  6. secure
Adjective
  • The idea is to give aircraft another long-range weapon for attacking high-value or time-sensitive targets while keeping those aircraft farther from heavily defended areas.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The city is part of Ukraine’s Fortress Belt, a series of heavily defended cities that Russia must overcome to advance farther into the region.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of defended
Adjective
  • The tax revolt was a successful attempt by a small group of ideologues to capitalize on people’s justifiable anger at the cost-of-living crisis that followed the war in Vietnam, along with California’s runaway home prices.
    — Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The valuation of Fernandez is entirely justifiable within the context of the huge fees paid by several Premier League clubs, and specifically City, for high-level central midfielders this summer.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of justifiable
Adjective
  • Sophisticated technology cannot substitute for experienced people, functioning networks, practiced relationships, and institutions capable of making defensible decisions under uncertainty.
    — Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Traceable references make each claim defensible when sharing work with clients or supervisors.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of defensible
Adjective
  • The result is a more efficient propulsion system that delivers greater range and energy, enabling engagement of highly maneuverable aerial threats at safer distances from protected forces.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The main Wekiva River was designated by Congress in 2000 as a protected National Wild and Scenic River.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of protected
Adjective
  • Best Egg and OneMain Financial are among our top picks for secured loans.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
  • With the California Academy of Family Physicians, Watts advocated for and secured funding for a family medicine residency program that focused on filling healthcare gaps.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of secured
Adjective
  • By coordinating manufacturing, research, and clinical development with partners like Japan, South Korea, Europe, and India, America can build a more secure but still economically viable alternative to Chinese developers.
    — Patrick McHenry, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Staff may have less time to properly assess prisoners, meaning they can be sent to less secure facilities, creating problems for management there.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of secure

Browse Nearby Words

defend
defendable
defendant
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Cite this Entry

“Defendable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendable. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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