Warranted: meaning, definitions and examples

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warranted

 

[ ˈwɒrəntɪd ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

legal context

Officially authorized or guaranteed; justified or necessitated by a particular circumstance or situation.

Synonyms

authorized, justified, legitimate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
warranted

Used when there is a good reason or necessity for something. Often implies that the action or decision is supported by facts or circumstances.

  • Your fears are warranted given the current situation
  • The manager's decision to call an emergency meeting was warranted
justified

Used when an action or decision is shown to be right or reasonable. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

  • His anger was justified considering how she treated him
  • The company's decision to lay off workers was justified by falling profits
legitimate

Used when something is lawful, right, or reasonable. Can be used to describe both legal and moral grounds.

  • She has a legitimate claim to the property
  • The concerns of the employees were legitimate and needed to be addressed
authorized

Used when someone has been officially given permission or power to do something. Often used in formal or legal contexts.

  • Only authorized personnel can access the restricted area
  • The bank authorized the transaction after verifying the details

Examples of usage

  • The judge issued a warranted search warrant for the suspect's house.
  • His actions were warranted by the imminent threat to national security.
Context #2 | Verb

general context

Justify or necessitate (a course of action).

Synonyms

deserve, justify, merit.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
warranted

When an action or decision is reasonable and right based on the situation or evidence, especially in a formal or legal context.

  • His actions were warranted given the circumstances.
  • The police had a warranted reason to search the house.
justify

When you need to show or prove that an action or decision is right or reasonable, often in response to a challenge.

  • How do you justify your actions?
  • The results justify the investment.
merit

When referring to qualities or actions that show a person or thing is worthy of praise or reward.

  • His suggestion merits further consideration.
  • The student's efforts merit recognition.
deserve

When someone has earned something through their actions or qualities, often implying fairness or justice.

  • She worked hard and deserves a promotion.
  • They deserve to be treated with respect.

Examples of usage

  • The new evidence warranted a reevaluation of the case.
  • Her behavior did not warrant such a harsh response.

Translations

Translations of the word "warranted" in other languages:

🇵🇹 justificado

🇮🇳 न्यायसंगत

🇩🇪 gerechtfertigt

🇮🇩 dibenarkan

🇺🇦 виправданий

🇵🇱 uzasadniony

🇯🇵 正当化された

🇫🇷 justifié

🇪🇸 justificado

🇹🇷 haklı

🇰🇷 정당화된

🇸🇦 مبرر

🇨🇿 oprávněný

🇸🇰 opodstatnený

🇨🇳 有正当理由的

🇸🇮 upravičen

🇮🇸 réttlætanlegur

🇰🇿 негізделген

🇬🇪 გასამართლებელი

🇦🇿 əsaslandırılmış

🇲🇽 justificado

Etymology

The word 'warranted' originated from the Middle English word 'warant' which came from the Old North French 'warant', meaning 'protector' or 'defender'. It has been used in legal contexts to signify authorization or justification since the 14th century.

See also: unwarranted, unwarrantedly, warrant, warranty.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,161 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.