indefensible

/ˌˈɪndəˌfɛnsəbəl/

Other forms: indefensibly

Something that's indefensible is inexcusable — there's no way to justify it. It's indefensible to take candy from a baby, or to give candy TO a baby, for that matter.

Indefensible behavior is just plain terrible, and it can't be explained away. It's indefensible, for example, or for one country to drop a bomb on innocent civilians in another country. Indefensible, "not able to be defended," comes from in-, "not," plus the Latin defendere and its sense of "allege in defense."

Definitions of indefensible

1. adjective

   not able to be protected against attack
   synonyms:

   vulnerable

   susceptible to attack
2. adjective

   incapable of being justified or explained
   synonyms: insupportable, unjustifiable, unwarrantable, unwarranted

   inexcusable

   without excuse or justification
3. adjective

   (of theories, etc.) incapable of being defended or justified
   synonyms: untenable

   unreasonable

   not reasonable; not showing good judgment