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 They will be disciplined about what they got locked into, choosing a vendor, model or architecture defensible three years out, not the one that looked strongest when purchased. — Girish Joshi, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Sophisticated technology cannot substitute for experienced people, functioning networks, practiced relationships, and institutions capable of making defensible decisions under uncertainty. — Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 26 Sep. 2026 Traceable references make each claim defensible when sharing work with clients or supervisors. — New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026 The agency encourages property owners to remove certain trees around homes for defensible-space purposes and works to thin forests throughout the Tahoe Basin to reduce wildfire risk. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 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 most justifiable criticism against the DC detective series is that its mysteries play out wordily, without letting the audience in on how its space cops come to major conclusions.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Appalled by the failure to answer many questions, Democrats responded with what was often, though not always, justifiable outrage.
    — David Wippman, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of justifiable
Adjective
  • The idea is to give aircraft another long-range weapon for attacking high-value or time-sensitive targets while keeping those aircraft farther from heavily defended areas.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of defended
Adjective
  • Eco effort Because Kanai is a protected area, eco efforts are top of mind.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The result is a more efficient propulsion system that delivers greater range and energy, enabling engagement of highly maneuverable aerial threats at safer distances from protected forces.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of protected
Adjective
  • After New Deal policies of the 1930s and 40s secured workers’ legal rights, union membership soared.
    — Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The crash site remained secured Wednesday as investigators worked to piece together the circumstances surrounding the deadly flight.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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