Justified means fair, right, or having a good reason or basis, while unjustified means the opposite: unfair, not right, or lacking a good reason or basis.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Justified: Something is justified when it can be shown to be right, reasonable, or deserved. It implies that there is a valid explanation or excuse for the action, belief, or situation in question. The root of the word, "just," implies fairness and righteousness.
- Examples:
- Self-defense can be a justified reason for using force.
- A company's decision to lay off employees might be justified due to severe financial losses.
- Criticism of a poorly executed project can be justified.
- Examples:
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Unjustified: Something is unjustified when it cannot be shown to be right, reasonable, or deserved. There's a lack of legitimate explanation or excuse. The prefix "un-" denotes negation. Therefore, unjustified actions are not right or fair.
- Examples:
- Unjustified aggression is considered a crime.
- Praising someone for work they didn't do is unjustified.
- An unjustified delay in processing a request can lead to frustration.
- Examples:
In essence, the key difference lies in the presence or absence of a sound rationale or basis. Justified actions or beliefs are supported by valid reasons, while unjustified ones lack such support.
