Indefensible
/ˌɪndɪˈfɛnsəbəl/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Indefensible describes something that cannot be protected or explained as good or fair. When a person does something wrong or unfair, and there is no good reason to excuse it, we say it is indefensible. It usually shows a strong negative judgment about behavior, decisions, or ideas.
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See It in Action
Something that cannot be defended or justified as right
- •His rude behavior was indefensible in front of the whole class.
- •The company’s decision to pollute the river was indefensible.
- •The judge said the defendant’s actions were indefensible and punished him.
Something that cannot be protected from attack or harm (less common, more literal)
- •The fort was indefensible without enough soldiers.
- •The town was indefensible against the strong storm.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "indefensible" like "wrong," but much stronger—it means you cannot protect or explain why it is okay
- ✓Picture a castle with no walls or soldiers: nothing can stop an attack, so it is indefensible
- ✓It's the feeling when you see someone do something clearly unfair and no one can say it was right
- ✓Sounds like "in-defense-able" but with "in-" meaning "not" → so, "not able to defend" → imagine a broken shield that cannot protect
- ✓Think of a story where a character makes a bad choice that everyone agrees is wrong and cannot be excused
- ✓NOT like "disagreeable" (which means you don’t like it), but "indefensible" means it cannot be explained or protected because it is clearly bad
- ✓NOT like "mistake" (which can be forgiven), "indefensible" means the action is too bad to accept or excuse
Try Other Words
- •Unjustifiable: cannot be shown as fair or right (Use when focusing on fairness or justice)
- •Inexcusable: too bad to be forgiven or accepted (Use when focusing on moral or ethical fault)
- •Unacceptable: not allowed or not good enough (Use in general situations where something is not okay)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "in-" means "not" or "without"
- •Root: "defensible" comes from "defend," meaning to protect or explain something
- •Etymology: From Latin "defendere" meaning "to protect, defend"
- •Historical development: The word "defensible" has been used since the 15th century; "indefensible" appeared later to show the opposite meaning
- •Modern usage: Used to describe actions, ideas, or things that cannot be protected or justified, especially in moral or legal contexts
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be considered indefensible in one culture but acceptable in another? Why or why not?
•How do people decide when an action is truly indefensible and beyond excuse?
Fill in the blanks
1.The politician’s comments were indefensible because they ___ hurt many people’s feelings.
2.When an action is indefensible, it is impossible to ___ a good reason for it.
3.Unlike a small mistake, an indefensible act cannot be ___ or forgiven easily.
4.Saying "I didn’t mean it" does not make an action ___ if it caused serious harm.
5.The lawyer argued that the damage was indefensible and ___ no excuse.
6.Indefensible behavior often causes ___ and strong reactions from others.
7.The city’s location was indefensible ___ the enemy’s attack because it had no walls.