Dictionary

indefensible en · ADJ

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English defensible English indefensible From in- + defensible.

Meanings

1. Not defensible; not capable of being defended.
2. (figuratively) Not capable of being justified or excused.
   • Mr. Elliot's frank statement that "sloth and untidiness are indefensible" is a sign that the task will be tackled with vigour. 1953 April, “Arrears of Station Maintenance”, in Railway Magazine, page 217:
   • Killing civilians is indefensible, whether done by Hamas or Israel [title] 2023 October 12, Rajan Menon, “Killing civilians is indefensible, whether done by Hamas or Israel”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • The president evidently intends to follow his own misguided calculus. A decision to withdraw would be indefensible. It is important to understand why and to consider what we need to do next. 2017 May 31, Todd Stern, “Leaving the Paris Agreement Would Be Indefensible”, in The Atlantic:
3. Incapable of being explained.

Forms

Antonyms

defensible

Deriveds

indefensibly · indefensibleness · indefensibility

Relateds

undefendable

Synonyms

vulnerable · invalid · untenable · unpardonable · untenable · insupportable · inexcusable

Translations (35)

es indefensible (incapable of being justified) · es indefendible (incapable of being justified) · fi puolustuskelvoton (not capable of being defended) · es indefendible (not capable of being defended) · ca indefensable (not capable of being defended) · fi mahdoton puolustella (incapable of being justified) · fi mahdoton perustella (incapable of being justified) · el αδικαιολόγητος (incapable of being justified) · de unhaltbar (incapable of being justified) · pl niewybaczalny (incapable of being justified) · es indefensible (not capable of being defended) · es indefensable (not capable of being defended) · sv försvarslös (not capable of being defended) · ro de neiertat (incapable of being justified) · ro nefundamentat (incapable of being justified) · pl niedopuszczalny (incapable of being justified) · ro de neapărat (not capable of being defended) · bg непростим (incapable of being justified) · gl indefendible (incapable of being justified) · fi mahdoton puolustaa (not capable of being defended) · pl nie do obrony (not capable of being defended) · ro neapărabil (not capable of being defended) · ro nejustificabil (incapable of being justified) · de unvertretbar (incapable of being justified) · es indefensable (incapable of being justified) · bg беззащитен (not capable of being defended) · ca indefensable (incapable of being justified) · bg незащитен (not capable of being defended) · el αδικαιολόγητος (not capable of being defended) · pl nieuzasadniony (incapable of being justified) · nl onverdedigbaar (incapable of being justified) · sv oförsvarlig (incapable of being justified) · ro imposibil de apărat (not capable of being defended) · fr indéfendable (incapable of being justified) · it indifendibile (incapable of being justified)