defensible

adjective

di-ˈfen(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce defensible (audio)
Definition of defensiblenext
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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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 Unlike tobacco, a static product with no real defensible qualities outside of recreation, consumer technology is ever evolving, and the lines between harmfully addictive and beneficial to society can be extremely blurry. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026 Enforcing environmental regulations is entirely defensible self-interest. — Charles Edward Gehrke, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 But the industry’s most defensible use cases are narrower than its marketing suggests, and the smart consumer move is to price the risk — infection, phlebitis, unregulated providers — into every visit. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 The developers would make improvements to Pierce Road, build a one-mile public trail and include home hardening and defensible space measures to mitigate wildfire risk. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defensible
  1. defendable
  2. justifiable
  3. defended
  4. protected
  5. secured
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of defendable
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
  • 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
  • That additional space supports higher burnout velocity and helps expand the interceptor’s defended area.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of defended
Adjective
  • 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
  • This includes Ukraine, where the Russian language recently lost protected status.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of protected
Adjective
  • In order to keep most of the seats available for the public, Fitzgerald limited how many of the defendants’ family members would get secured seats to 15 people.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Alo continues to expand rapidly after its big yacht summer; Vuori has surpassed its goal of 100-plus stores by the end of 2026; and the UK’s Adanola secured investment from Story3 Capital, valuing the business at $530 million last year.
    — Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of secured

Browse Nearby Words

defenses
defensible
defensive
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Cite this Entry

“Defensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensible. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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