tenable

ten·a·ble

adj \ˈte-nə-bəl\

Definition of TENABLE

: capable of being held, maintained, or defended : defensible, reasonable

— ten·a·bil·i·ty \ˌte-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— ten·a·ble·ness noun

— ten·a·bly \ˈte-nə-blē\ adverb

Examples of TENABLE

1. <the soldiers' encampment on the open plain was not tenable, so they retreated to higher ground>
2. <the tenable theory that a giant meteor strike set off a chain of events resulting in the demise of the dinosaurs>

Origin of TENABLE

Middle French, from Old French, from tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre — more at thin

First Known Use: 1579

Related to TENABLE

Synonyms: defendable, defensible

Antonyms: indefensible, untenable

Related Words: defended, guarded, protected, safeguarded, secure, secured, shielded; bulletproof, impregnable, indomitable, invincible, inviolable, invulnerable, unassailable, unbeatable, unconquerable, untouchable

Near Antonyms: vincible, vulnerable; assailable, exposed, imperiled (or imperilled), insecure, liable, open, susceptible, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, unsecured; defenseless, helpless, powerless, weak

see all synonyms and antonyms

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