unjustifiable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unjustifiable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation or behavior that is not reasonable or justified. Example sentence: The government's decision to increase taxes for middle-class citizens is unjustifiable.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The rough idea is that state action is an unjustifiable exercise of force by an unjustifiably privileged few unless those who wield state power have been authorised to do so by those most likely to be affected by it.

The Economist

As to the second, wrongness consists in unjustifiability: wrongness is the property of being unjustifiable.

SEP

"Denying them a say, on an issue which affects them so directly, is unfair, undemocratic and unjustifiable".

The Guardian

In November, two months after Arfee's death was ruled unjustifiable, the officers who killed Jeanetta were cleared of wrongdoing by a local prosecutor who reviewed the investigation conducted by the Bonner County sheriff's office.

The Guardian

As far as I can tell that's unjustifiable.

The Guardian

The secret military inquiry, which became public only in the past decade, concluded that the firing was "carried out without orders, and was indiscriminate and unjustifiable".

The Guardian

Some excellent fielding did for Wright, well caught by Hodge, and Root, brilliantly run out by Maxwell although he was taking an unjustifiable risk, and some bad luck and a bouncing bat did for Morgan.

The Guardian - Sport

Even if some of the Bloody Sunday families pursue the surviving soldiers accused of "unjustifiable" shootings in the report, either through the criminal or civil courts, there does seem to be a collective sense of closure within Derry and throughout nationalist Ireland in relation to this totemic massacre of the Troubles.

The Guardian

It was wholly unjustifiable.

The Guardian

Mr Martin was finance minister at the time.The government has appointed a judge, John Gomery, to investigate what Mr Martin himself has called an "unjustifiable mess".

The Economist

Retailers are impatient with what they see as unjustifiable differences between essentially similar products.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unjustifiable", ensure that the context clearly indicates what standard or principle is being violated. Be specific about why the action or decision lacks justification.

Common error

Avoid using "unjustifiable" in situations where the justification is purely subjective or a matter of opinion. Reserve it for instances where there's a clear objective standard that is not met.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unjustifiable" is as an adjective. It modifies a noun to describe something that cannot be justified, excused, or defended. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where "unjustifiable" is used to qualify actions, decisions, or conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "unjustifiable" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that cannot be justified or defended. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears frequently in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. It carries a neutral to formal tone and is most effectively employed when expressing disapproval of actions lacking objective reasoning. When using "unjustifiable", clarity and specific context are crucial, avoiding its overuse in subjective scenarios. Alternatives like "indefensible" or "unwarranted" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Therefore, mastering its usage enhances precision and impact in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indefensible

Focuses on the inability to defend an action or decision.

unwarranted

Emphasizes the lack of necessity or justification for something.

inexcusable

Highlights the lack of excuse for an action, implying strong disapproval.

unpardonable

Stresses the inability to forgive an action, suggesting severe consequences.

without justification

Directly states the absence of a valid reason.

lacking justification

Similar to "without justification", but with a slightly different emphasis.

not justified

A more direct and simple way of stating the lack of justification.

unreasonable

Focuses on the lack of reason or logic behind something.

groundless

Emphasizes the lack of factual or logical basis.

baseless

Similar to "groundless", highlighting the lack of foundation.

FAQs

How can I use "unjustifiable" in a sentence?

Use "unjustifiable" to describe actions or decisions that cannot be defended or excused. For example, "The company's decision to lay off employees without warning was "unjustifiable"."

What are some alternatives to the word "unjustifiable"?

You can use alternatives such as "indefensible", "unwarranted", or "inexcusable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something is 'partially unjustifiable'?

While grammatically correct, saying something is 'partially "unjustifiable"' can be confusing. It's better to specify which aspects are unjustifiable and why.

What's the difference between "unjustifiable" and "unjustified"?

"Unjustifiable" means something cannot be justified, while "unjustified" means it has not been justified. "Unjustified" simply implies a lack of justification at present, whereas ""unjustifiable"" suggests it's impossible to justify.