Able to be supported by sound reasons, evidence, or fair principles.
Reach for it when praising a position or decision that can withstand serious scrutiny
The committee chose a defensible estimate and published the uncertainty around it.
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everyday
Fits when a balanced person could accept the judgment
Careful Reasonable is broad and may praise moderation rather than resistance to a specific challenge.
professional
Fits when a claim is believable because the evidence and source inspire trust
Careful Credible concerns belief and does not necessarily make the underlying action fair or justified.
professional
sound
Fits when reasoning or judgment is solid and reliable
Careful Sound gives broad approval but does not evoke a challenge that must be answered.
professional
supportable
Fits when available evidence can sustain a claim
Careful Supportable is awkward for moral conduct and can sound like a minimum evidentiary threshold.
formal
Fits when ethical or practical reasons make an action acceptable
Careful Justifiable can permit a choice without suggesting the evidence is strong enough to persuade critics.
formal
Fits when an argument can survive criticism without contradiction
Careful Tenable sounds academic and does not naturally praise a compassionate practical choice.
defensible position
The board reached a defensible position after publishing the competing cost estimates.
defensible decision
A defensible decision explains both the evidence used and the tradeoffs accepted.
legally defensible
The revised process is legally defensible and easier for applicants to understand.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Qwertygiy, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated
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