Skip to main content
undefendable

undefendable

1 7.4
Too weak to be protected from attack or criticism
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌndɪˈfɛndəbl/
translation icon : indefendible
  • I'm with the author on this, not those who flail wildly trying to defend undefendable policy.

Examples

  • Mind you, they'll never defend the undefendable.

    Blog text (3)
  • You really will defend the undefendable, why?

    Blog text (1)
  • You try to defend the undefendable.

    Blog text (8)
  • Undefendable.

  • Mr. Cruz stuck with the issues and beat Dewhurst on Dewhurst's undefendable record.

    Blog text (25)
  • I give cred to Doug; however, he's trying to defend an undefendable position, how very sinking ship of him.

    Blog text (8)
  • The report highlighted the problems with the policy, stating that some aspects are simply undefendable.

  • After the scandal, the decisions made by the management became undefendable in the eyes of the public.

  • Many critics believe that his arguments are undefendable and fail to address the main issues.

Synonyms

untenable
vsundefendable
27 8.2

Impossible to defend against criticism

covers inability to be protected from any attack or challenge
indefensible
vsundefendable
24 7.5

People cannot show a decision or action is right when others criticize it

is the alternative form of the same meaning
unsupportable
vsundefendable
4 6.8

No one can show it is right

stresses inability to be protected from attack or criticism
completely indefensible
vsundefendable
1 8.1

An action or comment that no one can give a good reason for

has the same basic sense but without the strong intensity word
assailable
vsundefendable
1 7.7

Open to attack, harm, or strong criticism

describes a stronger state where defence is impossible rather than just possible
unguardable
vsundefendable
1 8.2

A shot or play that defenders cannot stop in sports

is a more general inability to be defended from criticism or attack
vincible
vsundefendable
1 9.9

Able to be defeated

focuses on being unable to be protected or defended rather than mere defeat
undefensible
vsundefendable
7.7

Not possible to show as right or acceptable

focuses more broadly on being unable to be protected from attack
unprotectable
vsundefendable
8.1

Cannot stay safe from harm or attack

adds inability to be defended from criticism or challenge as well

Antonyms

3 4.6

Can resist attack or strong criticism

How Defended

impregnable
10 7.9
fortified
5.1
defendable
3 4.6
undefendable
1 7.4
vulnerable
581 4.0
exposed
1 3.4

Surface Forms

undefendable positive

Morphology

undefendable = defendable (transparent) = un + defend + able

Formed by productive prefixation un- to the adjective 'defendable', yielding a straightforward negative meaning 'not able to be defended'.

Etymology

Undefendable is built from un- 'not', defend 'to protect', the same root you see in defense, and -able 'able to'. So think of a castle with broken walls: if it is undefendable, it 'cannot be protected' from attack or criticism.