supportable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'supportable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that can be supported or sustained, either literally or figuratively. For example: "Her contributions to the charity were both meaningful and supportable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Rather, they should be supported (or at least be supportable) by explicit arguments regarding how much more plausible one hypothesis is than another.

SEP

Sir Nick dismisses them as "not supportable".

The Economist

The range of the contraction extends from a perhaps bearable 3-5%, expected in Malaysia, to a barely supportable 15-20% in Indonesia.

The Economist

Jonathan Chait calls it "probably supportable", but notes that it is "tilted, overwhelmingly, toward Republican priorities".

The Economist

Conan Doyle's early interest in both scientifically supportable evidence and certain paranormal phenomena exemplified the complex diametrically opposing beliefs he struggled with throughout his life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is generally agreed that only 5,000,000 10,000,000 humans (i.e., one one-thousandth of the present world population) were supportable before the agricultural revolution of about 10,000 years ago.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Obviously, universal propositions, such as "All cats have claws," being only partially supportable by positive instances (one cannot examine every cat that exists), are not conclusively verifiable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We have long argued that in our youth summers in N.Y. were supportable without aid from air-conditioning... Summer on summer we have relied while in our office on two open windows on the 20th fl., scorning our neighbors on either side who turned on the air-conditioning... Now the Guaranty Trus Company has betrayed us.

The New Yorker

The "peace party" thinks any risk of war, great or small, is in supportable.

The New Yorker

It's not just that it's statistically supportable today.

The New Yorker

A referee couldn't blow the whistle every time a Flyer stepped over the line, because the Flyers would have to play the entire game shorthanded, and that isn't a supportable circumstance for the fans or the league.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "supportable" to describe claims, arguments, or positions that can be backed up with evidence or reasoning. For example, "The hypothesis is supportable based on the experimental data."

Common error

Avoid using "supportable" when you actually mean "sustainable". "Sustainable" refers to the ability to maintain something over time, while "supportable" refers to having the evidence or resources to back something up. For instance, a business model may be sustainable, but an argument is supportable.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "supportable" functions primarily to describe the capacity of something to be defended, maintained, or proven with evidence. As Ludwig shows, it's frequently used to qualify arguments, claims, and interpretations in various fields.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supportable" is a versatile adjective used to describe something capable of being defended, maintained, or proven. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various domains, especially in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. It conveys that a statement, action, or belief is reasonable and justifiable, often with evidence or logical reasoning. When writing, remember to use alternatives such as "defensible" or "maintainable" to add variety and make sure to use it to express ideas that can be defended and have good foundation instead of "sustainable". As Ludwig examples show, you can use the term to describe claims, arguments, or positions that can be backed up with evidence or reasoning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defensible

Implies being justifiable or able to be protected against criticism or attack.

defendable

Similar to defensible, but perhaps with a stronger implication of active protection.

justifiable

Highlights the quality of being able to be shown to be right or reasonable; defensible.

tenable

Suggests being able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.

maintainable

Focuses on the ability to keep something in good condition or working order.

upholdable

Emphasizes the ability to be defended or maintained, especially in a legal or moral context.

sustainable

Emphasizes the capacity to be maintained at a certain rate or level without depletion.

viable

Indicates the capability of working successfully; feasible.

bearable

Refers to something that can be endured or tolerated, often in a negative situation.

endurable

Similar to bearable, focusing on the capacity to withstand hardship or suffering.

FAQs

How can I use "supportable" in a sentence?

Use "supportable" to describe something capable of being upheld or defended. For instance, "The claim that exercise improves mental health is "supportable by numerous studies"".

What's the difference between "supportable" and "sustainable"?

"Supportable" means capable of being defended or upheld, often with evidence, while "sustainable" means capable of being maintained over time. A theory can be "supportable with data", but a lifestyle can be "sustainable through conscious choices".

What are some synonyms for "supportable"?

Alternatives to "supportable" include "defensible", "maintainable", or "justifiable" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "supportable"?

It's appropriate to use "supportable" when you want to express that a statement, argument, or action can be defended or justified with evidence or logic. For example, "His decision to invest in renewable energy is "supportable given the long-term benefits"".