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bulletproof

bulletproof

5 5.8
Hard to prove wrong
  • adjective
  • /ˈbʊlɪtpruːf/
: irrefutable
  • The lawyer presented a bulletproof argument that left no room for doubt.

It doesn't matter if it is tight, bulletproof.

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Examples

  • This is a pretty bulletproof case that you're making for, for testing early detection.

  • When your product is offering 100% availability, your testing had better be bulletproof.

    Blog text (29)
  • I got a bulletproof plan.

  • Now, that does appear to be bulletproof.

  • Commander, this thing is bulletproof.

  • You keep those five things squared away and you have a rock solid bulletproof reputation.

  • Soon they had a seemingly bulletproof case as to where the industry was heading.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The result doesn't need to be bulletproof in order to be published or considered good science.

    Blog text (25)
  • We structure our arguments to be legally sound and empirically bulletproof.

  • We're seeing all the tech companies who were bulletproof laying off staff and giving earnings warnings because everybody can't raise prices enough.

Synonyms

airtight
vsbulletproof
29 5.9

A very strong argument or plan that has no weak points

is the broader idea of being impossible to disprove
invulnerable
vsbulletproof
21 7.7

Not able to be harmed by attack or criticism

refers to being impossible to disprove rather than physical safety
ironclad
vsbulletproof
19 7.4

Very strict and impossible to change

applies to immunity from criticism rather than contractual rigidity
impregnable
vsbulletproof
10 7.9

Too strong and well protected for anyone to capture or defeat

is about being immune to criticism and logical disproof
unassailable
vsbulletproof
10 8.0

So strong that no one can attack, defeat, or prove it wrong

focuses on being immune to criticism and logical disproof
unimpeachable
vsbulletproof
  • Formal
7 8.2

Very honest and reliable so people cannot doubt it

is about being impossible to disprove, not moral trustworthiness
unshakable
vsbulletproof
  • US
2 4.8

Very strong belief or feeling that cannot be changed

means immune to refutation rather than only inner certainty
watertight
vsbulletproof
1 5.1

So strong and complete that people cannot prove it wrong

is the general inability to be refuted rather than specific phrasing
unchallengeable
vsbulletproof
1 7.2

So certain that no one can doubt it

emphasizes freedom from logical refutation rather than other strengths
unattackable
vsbulletproof
1 8.6

Others cannot attack or harm it

focuses on being impossible to disprove rather than just resisting attack
inexpugnable
vsbulletproof
1 9.9

No one can beat or prove it wrong

aligns with being undefeatable in argument rather than physical strength

Antonyms

590 4.0

At risk of being harmed, attacked or influenced

187 3.7

Not perfect because of a mistake or problem

1 6.5

Evidence can show that it is false

Compounds

A strong sleeveless jacket that stops bullets and protects the body

A design made to stop bullets and protect people or things

bulletproof plan
  • Informal
1 3.9

A very secure plan that is not likely to fail

How Defensible

bulletproof
5 5.8
airtight
29 5.9
sound
203 4.5
convincing
193 3.4
plausible
137 7.2
debatable
30 5.0
questionable
162 3.9

Surface Forms

bulletproof positive

Morphology

bulletproof = bullet + proof (semi-transparent) = bullet + proof

The figurative sense 'incapable of being disproved' is a metaphorical extension of the literal 'resistant to bullets', so the composition is recognizable but not purely literal.

Etymology

Bulletproof mixes bullet and proof, with proof meaning 'resistant to', as in foolproof. So a bulletproof argument or plan is one so strong it cannot be attacked or shown wrong.