is difficult to defend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is difficult to defend" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a position, argument, or statement that lacks strong support or justification. Example: "The theory proposed by the researcher is difficult to defend against the overwhelming evidence to the contrary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

However, it is difficult to defend the film's accuracy when one glaring error struck me early on.

The Guardian - Film

Internet searching is widely seen by industry executives as a powerful commercial service, but one that is difficult to defend.

The New York Times

Though Gay is difficult to defend, when either Conley or Gasol controls the ball, the offense is more versatile and dynamic because Gay is only an average passer.

The New York Times

Some of its players have complained that it is difficult to defend as aggressively or to change direction as quickly on the surface.

The New York Times - Sports

With Ewing playing so well with Sprewell and Houston -- forming a threesome that is difficult to defend -- it is hard to imagine the Knicks being intimidated by anyone.

The New York Times - Sports

The laboratory, with some buildings that are 50 years old, is at the bottom of a shallow canyon in a spot experts say is difficult to defend.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

One is that the Baltic states are difficult to defend.

The Economist

"They were physical and brought Crouch in, and it's difficult to defend.

Independent

"Since you don't know that it happened it will be difficult to defend.

The New Yorker

McShane survived the first wave of Carlsen's assault, but his position was difficult to defend.

The New York Times

The city was difficult to defend and had only a small militia garrison.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is difficult to defend", ensure you provide context as to why the subject is hard to defend. Briefly mentioning the counterarguments or weaknesses will strengthen your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "is difficult to defend" when a subject is clearly indefensible. The phrase implies that a defense, however challenging, is still possible. If the matter is utterly without merit, consider stronger language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is difficult to defend" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It describes a noun or concept, indicating a quality of being hard to justify or support. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples of this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is difficult to defend" is a commonly used phrase indicating that something lacks strong justification or is vulnerable to criticism. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While grammatically sound and versatile, remember to provide context and avoid overstating the difficulty. Alternatives such as "hard to justify" and "challenging to support" offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is hard to justify

Changes "difficult to defend" to "hard to justify", emphasizing the challenge of providing reasons or evidence to support something.

is challenging to support

Replaces "difficult to defend" with "challenging to support", highlighting the effort required to maintain or advocate for something.

is tough to uphold

Substitutes "difficult to defend" with "tough to uphold", focusing on the resilience needed to maintain a position.

is not easily justified

Rephrases "difficult to defend" to "not easily justified", underlining the complexity of providing a rationale.

lacks a strong defense

Alters "difficult to defend" to "lacks a strong defense", emphasizing the absence of robust supportive arguments.

is untenable

Replaces "difficult to defend" with "is untenable", indicating that a position is not sustainable or defensible.

is scarcely justifiable

Changes "difficult to defend" to "is scarcely justifiable", focusing on the minimal justification available.

is barely defensible

Substitutes "difficult to defend" with "is barely defensible", highlighting that the position can be defended with extreme difficulty.

is open to criticism

Rephrases "difficult to defend" to "is open to criticism", focusing on vulnerability.

presents a weak case

Alters "difficult to defend" to "presents a weak case", emphasizing the weakness in supporting arguments.

FAQs

How can I use "is difficult to defend" in a sentence?

Use "is difficult to defend" to describe a position, argument, or action that lacks strong support or is vulnerable to criticism. For example: "The company's environmental policy "is difficult to defend" given its history of pollution violations".

What are some alternatives to "is difficult to defend"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to justify", "challenging to support", or "lacks a strong defense" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "is difficult to defend"?

It's appropriate when you want to convey that something is not impossible to defend, but faces significant challenges and requires considerable effort to justify or support. If something is outright indefensible, a stronger term might be more suitable.

What's the difference between ""is difficult to defend"" and "is impossible to defend"?

"Is difficult to defend" suggests that while challenging, a defense is still conceivable. "Is impossible to defend" indicates that no defense is possible, regardless of effort.