as in legitimate
capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack
had justifiable reasons for leaving early
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Recent Examples of justifiable
Revel is gaining justifiable fame for throwing together some very fine cocktails served alongside one of the most legendary burgers in the city.
—
Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
Walking and hiking have become hugely popular as Mallorca increasingly leans into its (entirely justifiable) reputation for landscape beauty as well as sun, sea, and sangria.
—Paul Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
If that’s what happened, the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to reject the therapy was justifiable.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
There is justifiable scepticism that this is a deliberate philosophical shift, but rather a reaction to injury and circumstance, combined with an attempt to generate some enthusiasm about an otherwise underwhelming set of players.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for justifiable
Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
Walking and hiking have become hugely popular as Mallorca increasingly leans into its (entirely justifiable) reputation for landscape beauty as well as sun, sea, and sangria.
—Paul Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
If that’s what happened, the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to reject the therapy was justifiable.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
There is justifiable scepticism that this is a deliberate philosophical shift, but rather a reaction to injury and circumstance, combined with an attempt to generate some enthusiasm about an otherwise underwhelming set of players.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for justifiable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justifiable
Adjective
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Lue said that without a legitimate point guard, Dunn had to be more of a screen setter, making the right plays and looking to assist.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
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The technical chops are legitimate, too, with advanced fabrics and high-performing insulation.—
Todd Plummer,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In Russia’s current political environment, refusing to answer or giving a socially acceptable response is a rational strategy.—
Elizaveta Gaufman,
The Conversation,
21 Feb. 2026
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However, there were some seats in the upper levels that many fans would consider perfectly acceptable for a high-demand show that went for around $130 (disappearing very quickly at that level) or $180.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But because there are few viable alternatives for the full volume of oil which passes through the Strait to go by other routes, and because China would need to compete more intensely against other importers, such disruptions would also cause a major spike in global prices.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
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Sources close to the actress have previously said that no one close to her was a viable match.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The cost of fighting these baseless lawsuits is so high that, most often, a settlement becomes the only rational option.—
Nick Payzant,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
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In a preprint paper posted on February 2, three Chinese mathematicians placed the first ever hard upper limit on the number of rational points any curve can have.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That is if the letter writer doesn’t mind allowing them in her backyard for a few weeks while others find more reasonable ways to address this problem.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Feb. 2026
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As part of the lawsuit, Hartsuch claims Board of Medicine rules require that investigations be conducted and resolved within a reasonable time, and that the board knew or should have known that its delays would prevent Hartsuch from working as an ER physician.—
Clark Kauffman,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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One of the key barriers to this transition is ensuring that the reactor components are not just powerful, but also maintainable over several decades of continuous operation.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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This will be crucial for ensuring the resulting code is easily maintainable by human engineers, but Josh Triplett, an open source developer who contributes to the Rust project, says this may prove challenging.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This is precisely why brand differentiation and sustainability matter more than ever, with trust and strategic positioning standing out as truly defensible assets.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
24 Feb. 2026
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The city should work with land managers — including the state and county — on measures such as cutting gaps in vegetation for firefighter access, maintaining defensible space around community infrastructure and restoring native vegetation, the report said.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Justifiable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justifiable. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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