Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not able to be supported or defended: Describes something (like an argument, claim, position, or situation) that lacks evidence, logic, or justification, making it impossible to maintain or defend.
   • Unbearable or intolerable: Describes a burden, strain, or situation that is too heavy, difficult, or painful to endure.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The scientist's theory was deemed unsupportable by her peers due to a lack of experimental data.
  • The financial burden on the small business became unsupportable, forcing it to close.
  • He made an unsupportable claim that he could not back up with any facts.

Advanced Usage

• "to render something unsupportable": to cause a situation or position to become impossible to maintain.
  • The new evidence rendered the defendant's alibi unsupportable.
• "logically unsupportable": a conclusion or idea that contradicts established reasoning or facts.
  • The premise of the argument was logically unsupportable.

Variants and Related Words

• Unsupported (adj): Not supported physically, financially, or with evidence. (Note: This is a distinct word, often used where there is simply an absence of support, whereas "unsupportable" implies that support is .)
  • The bridge collapsed because its central pillar was unsupported.
  • His opinion was unsupported by any research.
• Insupportable (adj): A synonym, meaning exactly the same as "unsupportable" (unbearable or indefensible).

Synonyms

• Indefensible: Cannot be defended or justified.
• Unjustifiable: Impossible to show to be right or reasonable.
• Unbearable: Not able to be endured or tolerated.
• Untenable: (Of a position, theory, etc.) Not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.

Antonyms

• Defensible: Able to be defended or justified.
• Justifiable: Able to be shown to be right or reasonable.
• Supportable: Able to be supported, endured, or defended.
• Tenable: Able to be maintained or defended.

Adjective

1. not able to be supported or defended