as in unacceptable
too bad to be excused or justified
the city's lack of preparedness for a major natural disaster was utterly indefensible
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Recent Examples of indefensible
Wielding state power to discriminate against kids is indefensible.
—
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
The 15% rate may be harsh and unwise, but 70% can seem indefensible.
—George Calhoun, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
What’s even worse is that public universities still consider legacy, which is indefensible.
—Latrice Walker, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
For decades, transfer remained the third rail of Israeli politics - so extreme, so indefensible, that it could not be spoken of in polite company.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indefensible
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
The 15% rate may be harsh and unwise, but 70% can seem indefensible.
—George Calhoun, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
What’s even worse is that public universities still consider legacy, which is indefensible.
—Latrice Walker, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
For decades, transfer remained the third rail of Israeli politics - so extreme, so indefensible, that it could not be spoken of in polite company.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indefensible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indefensible
Adjective
-
Shapiro told reporters at a news conference on April 16 that regardless of the motivation for the crime, political violence must be condemned as unacceptable in our society.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Tom Schwartz later says that the behavior is completely unacceptable, as does Jason.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The 107 new plaintiffs join 60 other former patients who have accused Brock in lawsuits last year of inappropriate and medically unjustifiable behavior that at times resulted in lasting physical complications.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025
-
For many, $449 might be an unjustifiable luxury, but for the Nintendo faithful, these incremental improvements add up to something quite promising indeed.—
James Perkins Mastromarino,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Hynes won’t address or comment on Nyquist (who has been abysmal for 5 games, the worst player in the entire playoffs) and trots him out there in OT after that inexcusable offside, but Zeev gets benched quickly and Rossi gets demoted to 4th line and stays there.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Despite his character Cal Jacobs’s inexcusable behavior on the show, Dane has managed to capture the humanity of the character’s internal battle with his sexuality throughout the first two seasons.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Waters’ career has been defined by his fearless — often outrageous — approach to spotlighting LGBTQ+ actors and themes.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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Amending the Constitution would not happen overnight, but starting the process would most definitely put the spotlight on Trump and the outrageous historical precedents set by those who came before him, which have helped to make our current national crisis not only possible but perhaps inevitable.—
Patrick Eddington,
Oc Register,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Conservatives and Republicans in Congress continue to claim that the cost of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits is an insupportable burden on America, so benefits need to be cut, though President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to preserve entitlements like Social Security and Medicare.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Jan. 2025
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There are people of goodwill who think the way out of this insupportable situation lies in the fight for equal democratic rights in a single state for everyone living in the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.—
Michelle Goldberg,
The Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2024
Adjective
-
For anyone who is outside the MAGA bubble, the first and best half of Whipple’s book is a voyage into the unforgivable.—
Fintan O’Toole,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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Breach of confidence—that is the scarlet sin, the cardinal and unforgivable sin of our fraternal ethos.—
Charles Portis,
Harper's Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Attacking innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Alone in George’s office, Roger commits the unpardonable offense of reading his notebook.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Sandhagen dispatched Edgar with a vicious flying knee 28 seconds into that bout.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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In its most memorable moment, Walker dispatches a particularly vicious henchwoman with a harpoon to the neck.—
Mike Miller,
EW.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indefensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indefensible. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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