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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 defensible
Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, pointed to the concept of defensible borders that emerged after the 1967 Six-Day War.
—
Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
This hands-on perspective helps ensure outputs are clinically relevant, immediately actionable, and scientifically defensible.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
This model is not only more effective for job seekers and employers, but also legally defensible with transparency and control over AI in the hands of the job seeker.
—CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
From clearing defensible space to maintaining safer landscapes, residents are playing an active role.
—David Gamboa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defensible
Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
This hands-on perspective helps ensure outputs are clinically relevant, immediately actionable, and scientifically defensible.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
This model is not only more effective for job seekers and employers, but also legally defensible with transparency and control over AI in the hands of the job seeker.
—CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
From clearing defensible space to maintaining safer landscapes, residents are playing an active role.
—David Gamboa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defensible
Adjective
-
The administration has argued in favor of gun rights in other cases, but government lawyers say this law is a justifiable restriction.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
-
In turn, Podziemski’s game morphed from something young, fresh, and exciting into a stale loaf of bread, drawing the justifiable ire of Warriors fans everywhere.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
It is designed with advanced stealth features to reduce its radar signature and improve survivability in heavily defended airspace.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Private firefighting outfits defended companies, utilities, and ultrarich enclaves while other parts of the city burned.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to the anxiety over Monday's ruling, Petit said, Haitians under protected status were living amid an uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in areas with large Haitian communities in South Florida.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Isabella Rodriguez, Florida elections director at Citizens Defending Freedom, said religion is also a protected class.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Inside the highly secured courtroom in the Washington County Courthouse, the district attorney made the decision to reduce the number of charges, and Meyers's attorney waived the remaining 67 charges to trial.—
Ross Guidotti,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
One example, Sebban notes, involved an up-and-coming first aid brand that secured placement with a major retailer after more than a year of collaboration on design, samples, and quality refinement.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensible. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
