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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defensible
Taken together, these initiatives suggest Dollar General is carving out a defensible position in small-town America that Walmart or even Amazon can’t easily match.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2025
The United States is a sovereign nation with defensible borders—a homeland that protects our national interests, defends our distinctly American people, and promotes lasting peace and prosperity.
—Riley Moore, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Dalton described spending about $2,000 trimming trees and another $500 putting down gravel to create defensible space.
—Rob Davis, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025
The correct answer is that more housing is better, which is vastly more beneficial than an empty lot or truck depot and there is no defensible excuse to block that housing.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensible
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2025
The United States is a sovereign nation with defensible borders—a homeland that protects our national interests, defends our distinctly American people, and promotes lasting peace and prosperity.
—Riley Moore, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Dalton described spending about $2,000 trimming trees and another $500 putting down gravel to create defensible space.
—Rob Davis, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025
The correct answer is that more housing is better, which is vastly more beneficial than an empty lot or truck depot and there is no defensible excuse to block that housing.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defensible
Adjective
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But even defensive gun uses that are ultimately ruled to be justifiable often result in legal consequences—investigations, charges, grand-jury proceedings, and sometimes trials.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Sep. 2025
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There is a justifiable public-health rationale for going after these shops.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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In 11 games for Wisconsin, Lucas recorded 18 tackles, one interception and three defended passes.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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After walking away from the semi-protected working environment of Anderson’s film, Hoffman followed the advice of some peers and enrolled in an acting school in New York to hone his craft.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
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The study underscores the threat extreme heat poses to birds in tropical regions and helps explain why birds are dying even in remote and protected areas, typically considered havens of biodiversity.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman and John Turturro all secured nominations in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category; meanwhile, Patricia Arquette is competing for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
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Despite questions surrounding his confirmation, Hegseth secured support in January from all but three Republicans to become Defense secretary with a 51-50 vote as Vice President JD Vance broke the tie.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensible. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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