indefensible
Americanadjective
-
not justifiable; inexcusable.
indefensible behavior.
-
incapable of being protected or defended against attack.
an indefensible town.
- Synonyms:
- unprotected, defenseless, vulnerable
-
incapable of being defended against criticism or denial; untenable.
indefensible argument.
adjective
-
not justifiable or excusable
-
capable of being disagreed with; untenable
-
incapable of defence against attack
Other Word Forms
- indefensibility noun
- indefensibleness noun
- indefensibly adverb
Etymology
Origin of indefensible
First recorded in 1520–30; in- 3 + defensible
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If she weren’t such an indefensible character, Bondi’s efforts to save her job would be sad.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
Yet his indefensible opinion in Konan invites precisely that risk.
From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026
In any other data-driven field, such deliberate disregard of evidence would be indefensible.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
“I apologize and regret putting myself in a position where emails, some of them embarrassing, tasteless, and indefensible, are now public, and that is on me,” Attia wrote.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026
Ignoring the poor, Jim and Paul believed, was also morally indefensible, and the world was beginning to recognize that.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
