decision cannot be upheld

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decision cannot be upheld" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or formal contexts when discussing the validity or support of a decision made by a court or authority. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, the appellate court concluded that the lower court's decision cannot be upheld."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In fact, the total under-fulfillment obtains its highest value, and obviously this decision cannot be upheld.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yet to conclude that the distinction between minimal and robust realism cannot be upheld would be hasty.

SEP

From a statistical perspective, such a notion cannot be upheld.

BMC Biology

In accordance with Belshaw et al. [ 8], we conclude that these species boundaries cannot be upheld.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Arbitrary rules including minimum times or minimum dimensions cannot be upheld from a scientific standpoint.

BMC Health Services Research

The decision cannot be appealed.

The New York Times

The commissioner's decision cannot be appealed.

The New York Times

The decision cannot be reviewed or appealed.

The New Yorker

This decision cannot be delayed.

The New Yorker

The decision cannot be a political one.

The Guardian - Business

This decision cannot be appealed.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decision cannot be upheld" in formal writing, especially when discussing legal or official judgments that lack support or are being challenged.

Common error

Avoid using "decision cannot be upheld" in casual conversations. It sounds overly formal and can be replaced with simpler phrases like "the decision is wrong" or "the decision won't work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decision cannot be upheld" functions as a statement indicating that a decision is unsustainable, indefensible, or likely to be overturned. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to express that a decision lacks sufficient support or validity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decision cannot be upheld" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey that a decision is invalid, lacks support, or is likely to be overturned. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, highlighting its prevalence in formal contexts such as legal or official pronouncements. While not frequently used in casual conversation, its presence in news media, science, and encyclopedia sources indicates a formal register. For simpler communication, alternatives like "the decision is wrong" may be more appropriate. The phrase is found across authoritative sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the ruling is invalid

Emphasizes the legal nullity of the ruling.

the decision is indefensible

Highlights the lack of justification for the decision.

the call cannot stand

Indicates that the decision is unacceptable and must be changed.

the decision is unsustainable

Focuses on the long-term viability of the decision.

the conclusion is untenable

Highlights that the conclusion is unable to be defended.

the verdict is overturned

Indicates a reversal of a previous verdict.

the judgment is reversed

Implies that a previous judgment has been changed by a higher authority.

the determination is rejected

Focuses on the act of refusing to accept the determination.

the finding is refuted

Suggests that the basis of the decision has been disproven.

the resolution is nullified

Specifies the cancellation of a resolution.

FAQs

What does it mean when a "decision cannot be upheld"?

It means that the decision is not supported by evidence, legal precedent, or logical reasoning, and therefore, it is likely to be overturned or invalidated by a higher authority.

How to use "decision cannot be upheld" in a sentence?

You might say, "After reviewing the evidence, the appellate court concluded that the lower court's "decision cannot be upheld" because it was based on inadmissible evidence."

What are some synonyms for "decision cannot be upheld"?

Synonyms include "the decision is unsustainable", "the ruling is invalid", or "the judgment is reversed". You can explore more alternatives "here", "here", and "here".

What's the difference between "decision cannot be upheld" and "decision was overturned"?

"Decision cannot be upheld" suggests a potential or likely future invalidation, while "decision was overturned" indicates that the decision has already been officially reversed or nullified.