Unsupportable: meaning, definitions and examples

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unsupportable

 

[ ˌənsəˈpôrtəb(ə)l ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

adjective describing something that cannot be supported

Not capable of being supported or defended; impossible to justify or maintain.

Synonyms

indefensible, unjustifiable, unsustainable, untenable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unsupportable

Use 'unsupportable' when referring to something that cannot be maintained or backed up, often due to lack of resources or feasibility.

  • His extravagant lifestyle was financially unsupportable.
  • The unsupportable weight of the bridge led to its collapse.
untenable

Use 'untenable' when something cannot be maintained or held, often in reference to arguments, positions, or situations that are logically or practically indefensible.

  • His argument was weak and ultimately untenable.
  • The living conditions were untenable, forcing them to move.
indefensible

Use 'indefensible' when describing something that cannot be justified or defended, often from a moral or logical standpoint. This word generally carries a negative connotation.

  • Her actions were indefensible and caused a lot of harm.
  • The decision to cut funding for education is indefensible.
unsustainable

Use 'unsustainable' to talk about situations or practices that cannot continue in the long term, often due to environmental, economic, or resource limitations.

  • The current rate of deforestation is unsustainable.
  • The business model proved to be unsustainable after a few years.
unjustifiable

Use 'unjustifiable' to describe actions or decisions that lack a valid reason or explanation, often implying that any reason given would be insufficient. This word also generally carries a negative connotation.

  • The company's treatment of its employees was unjustifiable.
  • The expense was unjustifiable given their current financial situation.

Examples of usage

  • His argument was so unsupportable that no one believed him.
  • The weight of the evidence made the defendant's position unsupportable.
  • Her actions were deemed unsupportable by her colleagues.
  • The company faced an unsupportable financial burden.
  • The decision to cut funding was considered unsupportable by many.

Translations

Translations of the word "unsupportable" in other languages:

🇵🇹 insuportável

🇮🇳 असहनीय

🇩🇪 unerträglich

🇮🇩 tidak tertahankan

🇺🇦 нестерпний

🇵🇱 nieznośny

🇯🇵 耐えられない

🇫🇷 insupportable

🇪🇸 insoportable

🇹🇷 dayanılmaz

🇰🇷 참을 수 없는

🇸🇦 لا يطاق

🇨🇿 nesnesitelný

🇸🇰 neznesiteľný

🇨🇳 无法忍受的

🇸🇮 neznosen

🇮🇸 óþolandi

🇰🇿 шыдамсыз

🇬🇪 უსაზღვროდ

🇦🇿 dözülməz

🇲🇽 insoportable

Etymology

The word 'unsupportable' originated from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'supportable', which comes from the Latin word 'supportare' meaning 'to support'. The term has been used in the English language for centuries to describe situations or arguments that are unable to be justified or maintained.

See also: insupportable, support, supported, supporter, supporters, supporting, supportive, supportively, supportiveness, supports, unsupported.