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
Prosecutors have determined that the police shooting of a man in South San Francisco in December was legally justifiable and no charges will be filed against the involved officers.
—
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
As with Osterweil, who argued that white supremacy can render even violent looting a legitimate act, Piker and Tolentino suggest that certain crimes become not just morally justifiable but even admirable when coupled with a claim against structural injustice.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
The reader must, unknown to themselves, be so moved by the emotional stakes of the debate that only one outcome feels justifiable.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Only three justifiable arguments were made for this war.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for justifiable
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
As with Osterweil, who argued that white supremacy can render even violent looting a legitimate act, Piker and Tolentino suggest that certain crimes become not just morally justifiable but even admirable when coupled with a claim against structural injustice.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
The reader must, unknown to themselves, be so moved by the emotional stakes of the debate that only one outcome feels justifiable.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Only three justifiable arguments were made for this war.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for justifiable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for justifiable
Adjective
-
Taiwan is its integral part, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
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Yet many of the investment deals on offer are sketchy and tenuously legitimate—the digital equivalent of a man in a trenchcoat offering his wares on the sidewalk.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Causing a secondary cancer may be an acceptable risk when treating a life-threatening cancer, but probably not for autoimmunity, says Matt Lunning, medical director for gene and cellular therapy at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha.—
Amber Dance,
ArsTechnica,
17 May 2026
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Law enforcement becomes the first responder, and this is not acceptable.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Claims about artificial intelligence must be technically accurate, operationally supportable, and consistent with the company’s financial results.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The safe, defendable choice wasn’t necessarily the right one though.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Gossett had velocity, the ability to locate and a viable pitch mix.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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Billionaire Tom Steyer still holds a chance at 15%, but all other candidates who were once viable are lagging behind by single-digit percentages.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
The first revolution demolished the neoliberal picture of human nature, in which people are the rational, self-interested maximizers of economic textbooks.—
Nick Hanauer,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
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Wollstonecraft believed that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and imagined a social order founded on reason.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Allow reasonable discipline in school.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
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If reasonable, open windows and turn off air conditioning at night to let cooler air in, then shut the windows and shades in the morning to trap the cool air inside, Trane recommends.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Why These Habits Actually Stick What makes these rules actually maintainable is their quick, flexible, and immediately impactful nature.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
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The vehicle is easily maintainable and highly adaptable to meet diverse mission and operational needs, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Justifiable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/justifiable. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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