supportable
/sə'pɔ:təbl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Capable of being endured or tolerated: Describes something unpleasant or difficult that can be borne or put up with. 2. Capable of being upheld or defended: Describes an argument, theory, or position that can be maintained or justified with evidence.
Usage and Examples
- As an adjective meaning "bearable":
- The heat was intense but just about supportable with a fan.
- The pain from the injury was supportable with medication.
- As an adjective meaning "defensible":
- His hypothesis is supportable by the data from the recent experiments.
- The lawyer argued that the client's actions were supportable under the law.
Advanced Usage
- "Barely supportable": Used to emphasize that something is only just tolerable or defensible.
- The living conditions in the camp were barely supportable.
- His excuse for being late was barely supportable.
Variants and Related Words
- Support (verb/noun): To bear the weight of; to give assistance or approval to; the act of supporting.
- Supportive (adjective): Providing encouragement or emotional help.
- Supported (adjective): Held up or having received backing.
- Insupportable (adjective): The direct antonym, meaning unbearable or unjustifiable.
Synonyms
- Bearable: Able to be endured.
- Tolerable: Able to be tolerated or endured.
- Endurable: Able to be endured.
- Defensible: Justifiable by argument.
- Sustainable: Able to be maintained or upheld (over time).
Antonyms
- Insupportable: Unbearable; impossible to justify.
- Unbearable: Not able to be endured.
- Intolerable: Not able to be tolerated.
- Indefensible: Not justifiable by argument.
Notes on Meaning
The primary and most common meaning of supportable relates to endurance (e.g., supportable pain). The meaning related to defending a position (e.g., a supportable theory) is less frequent but valid. The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Adjective
- capable of being borne though unpleasant
- sufferable punishment