as in legitimate
capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack
had justifiable reasons for leaving early
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of justifiable
So, his reaction to not hearing his name called Wednesday — when the AL starters were selected — or Sunday was justifiable.
—
Kansas City Star, 12 July 2025
Liam Twomey: There has been a lot of understandable cynicism and some less justifiable snootiness about this competition from some quarters, but the fundamental reality of football is that if the players take it seriously, everyone else will.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Unlike earlier studies that uncovered evasion or deception, this research exposed a more alarming phenomenon: models calculating that unethical behavior was a justifiable strategy for survival.
—Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Murder, then, has already been established as a justifiable means of protection.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for justifiable
Kansas City Star, 12 July 2025
Liam Twomey: There has been a lot of understandable cynicism and some less justifiable snootiness about this competition from some quarters, but the fundamental reality of football is that if the players take it seriously, everyone else will.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Unlike earlier studies that uncovered evasion or deception, this research exposed a more alarming phenomenon: models calculating that unethical behavior was a justifiable strategy for survival.
—Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Murder, then, has already been established as a justifiable means of protection.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for justifiable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justifiable
Adjective
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Generational wealth passes through legitimate streams here, too.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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These jurors believe insurance companies are happy to collect premiums but will fight aggressively to avoid paying legitimate claims when people actually get hurt.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But critics see this as a way for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to ban more books and circumvent state law, which gives school districts the job of determining which books are acceptable for school libraries.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Aug. 2025
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These burger spirals are an acceptable gluten-free solution: They’re made with rice paper wrappers.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Therefore, since no other viable options seem to exist, the person chooses to remain silent.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Canada is the second-largest country in the world and flying is often the only viable option.—
Rob Gillies,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sir Charlie Mayfield, a stalwart of the UK business community and advisor to Liz Kendall, Work and Pensions Secretary, has recently been quoted in The Times stating that employers have a ‘rational’ fear of hiring disabled staff.—
Nancy Doyle,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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The irony was that Harlem’s numbers queen, a model of rational risk-taking, found herself in a love triangle with a dream-book mystic—then took to the newspapers to denounce Futtam’s obvious impostures.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Regardless of what the future holds, Roman Anthony has set himself and his family up for life, and the Red Sox have locked in yet another piece of their future at a reasonable rate.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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There’s a reasonable fear, especially considering what happened the last time Cunningham mentioned the trend, that this would only attract additional misogynistic attacks.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Each statement should challenge a common belief in [your industry/niche] while being defensible with evidence.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Justifiable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justifiable. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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