seems justifiable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seems justifiable"is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something appears to be reasonable or logical. For example, "Given the circumstances, his decision to quit his job seems justifiable."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Morally, that seems justifiable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sanction, defined by the Oxford American College Dictionary as "a consideration operating to enforce obedience to any rule of conduct" seems justifiable.

The New York Times

Radical hope is our best weapon against despair, even when despair seems justifiable; it makes the survival of the end of your world possible.

The New Yorker

When a lifetime of suffering, medical visits and prescription drugs can be resolved with a not especially challenging dietary change — one that, when it works, has rewards well worth the sacrifice — a certain amount of retroactive frustration seems justifiable.

The New York Times

But if the CPI does in fact broadly represent inflation more accurately, then Mr Osborne's decision seems justifiable, certainly once the index starts to take account of owner-occupier housing costs.

The Economist

Thus, when combined with the location of the Western Wall - on the edge of Jewish West Jerusalem, and thus not difficult to annex to a final-status state - it seems justifiable to insist on its retention.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Nor does not Court's result seem justifiable for practical reasons of regulatory accommodation.

Cornell University

"The figure," the trust said, "does not seem justifiable at the present time".

The Guardian - Sport

When the Rockets were rolling in preseason, predictions of being a top-four team in the West seemed justifiable.

The New York Times

It was typical of his understanding of the wider political implications of decisions that might at first sight have seemed justifiable.

Independent

A proper autopsy takes a minimum of two hours, which may not seem justifiable when families of living patients are waiting impatiently for biopsy results.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seems justifiable", ensure that you provide the reasoning or context that makes the action or decision appear reasonable. This adds clarity and strength to your argument.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something "seems justifiable" without explaining why. This can weaken your argument and leave the reader unconvinced. Always provide the evidence or reasoning that supports your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems justifiable" functions as an evaluative expression, presenting a subjective assessment of whether something is reasonable or warranted. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in various contexts, from moral judgments to business decisions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seems justifiable" is a versatile phrase used to express the qualified reasonableness of an action or decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and well-suited for diverse contexts, particularly in science, news, and business. To effectively use "seems justifiable", provide clear context and reasoning to support your assessment. While alternatives like "appears reasonable" and "sounds defensible" exist, "seems justifiable" offers a specific nuance of reasoned validation. Be mindful of the potential error of using the phrase without providing sufficient support for your judgment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears reasonable

Replaces 'justifiable' with 'reasonable', focusing on the logical aspect.

sounds defensible

Emphasizes the ability to be defended or supported, rather than pure justification.

seems logical

Highlights the logical consistency rather than the moral or ethical justification.

appears warranted

Indicates that something is officially or formally justified.

sounds legitimate

Focuses on the lawfulness or authenticity of something.

seems acceptable

Indicates something meets a certain standard or is tolerated.

appears valid

Suggests the idea is well-founded and sound.

seems legitimate

Indicates something conforms to the law or to rules.

sounds plausible

Focuses on the surface-level believability of something without deep scrutiny.

appears excusable

Suggests mitigating circumstances make an action more understandable.

FAQs

How can I use "seems justifiable" in a sentence?

You can use "seems justifiable" to express that an action or decision appears reasonable given certain circumstances. For example, "Given the lack of other options, the company's decision to downsize "seems justifiable"".

What are some alternatives to "seems justifiable"?

Alternatives to "seems justifiable" include "appears reasonable", "sounds defensible", and "seems logical". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "seems justifiable" or "is justifiable"?

"Seems justifiable" indicates a perception or opinion, while "is justifiable" asserts a fact. Use "seems justifiable" when you want to express your view without claiming absolute certainty. The final choice depends on the certainty you want to express.

What's the difference between "seems justifiable" and "appears excusable"?

"Seems justifiable" implies a rational basis or reason for something, while "appears excusable" suggests mitigating circumstances that lessen the blame. "Appears excusable" focuses on forgiving, "seems justifiable" on providing a justification.