it was defensible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was defensible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a position, argument, or action that can be justified or supported with reasoning. Example: "Despite the criticism, the decision to proceed with the project was defensible based on the data available at the time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As a decision of law, it was defensible.

Independent

Many words have already been written about whether or not it was defensible to do so, and if she should've come clean immediately.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"The most pressing crisis situation is in Europe right now, so it's defensible that the I.M.F. should have a lot of its eggs in the European basket," said Nicolas Véron, a senior fellow at Bruegel, a Brussels-based research institute, and a visiting fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington.

The New York Times

If it's marketplace, it's defensible; if it's enterprise, she can be undercut".

The New Yorker

Don't be afraid to vote for some Tory legislation, if it's defensible.

Independent

Perhaps it's defensible there, since the people being reported are doing the same thing.

The Guardian

There has been much to lament about the British Government's response, but in one respect it is defensible.

Independent

It is defensible, too: The sheer magnitude of the task of networking high-bandwidth content favors capital-rich incumbents over start-ups.

The New York Times

He does not think it is defensible for states to turn away refugees on the basis of cultural or religious identity.

The New Yorker

"I think it's defensible that at least once in the life of this parliament the issue should be tested, but not at the expense of the government's priorities".

The Guardian

"All I can repeat is evidence we gave last week... that the government has advice to hand that suggests that we are on legally sound ground, it's defensible, and it's a common practice - common enough almost to be invariably the case - that legal opinions are not made public by way of submission to committees".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was defensible", ensure that you can provide specific reasons or evidence to support the claim. Simply stating it's defensible is insufficient; explain why.

Common error

Avoid using "it was defensible" as a blanket statement without providing supporting facts or reasoning. Overusing the phrase without justification weakens its impact and can undermine your argument. Instead, offer a clear rationale for why the action or decision was defensible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was defensible" functions as a statement of justification. It asserts that a past action, decision, or position could be supported with reasonable arguments or evidence. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was defensible" is a grammatically correct way to state that a past action or decision could be justified or supported. Ludwig AI underscores that it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media and scientific discussions. When using this phrase, provide concrete reasons or evidence to support your claim, and avoid overusing it without sufficient justification. Remember that alternatives like "it was justifiable" or "it was reasonable" can offer similar meanings with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was justifiable

Replaces 'defensible' with 'justifiable', emphasizing the moral rightness or acceptability of the action.

it was reasonable

Substitutes 'defensible' with 'reasonable', suggesting the action was logical and sensible in the given circumstances.

it was supportable

Uses 'supportable' instead of 'defensible', indicating that the action could be backed up with evidence or arguments.

it was arguable

Employs 'arguable' suggesting that the action could be debated and defended, though not necessarily with complete certainty.

it was acceptable

Replaces 'defensible' with 'acceptable', focusing on whether the action met a certain standard or level of approval.

it was valid

Uses 'valid' instead of 'defensible', highlighting the legitimacy and soundness of the action or decision.

it was well-founded

Substitutes 'defensible' with 'well-founded', emphasizing that the action was based on solid evidence or reasoning.

it was warranted

Employs 'warranted', suggesting that the action was justified and appropriate given the situation.

it was understandable

Replaces 'defensible' with 'understandable', indicating that the action was comprehensible, even if not entirely justifiable.

it was responsible

Substitutes 'defensible' with 'responsible', emphasizing that the action showed judgment and care.

FAQs

What does "it was defensible" mean?

The phrase "it was defensible" means that a particular action, decision, or argument could be justified or supported with reasoning and evidence.

How can I use "it was defensible" in a sentence?

You can use "it was defensible" to explain why a decision, though perhaps unpopular, had a valid basis. For example: "Despite the criticism, the decision to downsize the company "it was defensible" based on the financial forecasts".

What can I say instead of "it was defensible"?

You can use alternatives like "it was justifiable", "it was reasonable", or "it was supportable" depending on the context.

Is "it is defensible" the same as "it was defensible"?

No, "it is defensible" suggests a current state of justifiability, while "it was defensible" refers to something that was justifiable in the past. For example, "The initial strategy "it was defensible" at the time, but now circumstances have changed."