1
as in defendable
capable of being defended against physical attack
the soldiers' encampment on the open plain was not tenable, so they retreated to higher ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justifiable
capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack
the tenable theory that a giant meteor strike set off a chain of events resulting in the demise of the dinosaurs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tenable
These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.
—
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026
The premise that China would remain a status-quo power anchored in the old trading order is no longer tenable.
—Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
After the war, many Iranians hoped things would change and that the government would leverage the nationalistic rally around the flag to introduce a more tenable social contract with the populace.
—Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Even so, their choice may not be tenable for much longer.
—Allison Schrager, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenable
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026
The premise that China would remain a status-quo power anchored in the old trading order is no longer tenable.
—Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
After the war, many Iranians hoped things would change and that the government would leverage the nationalistic rally around the flag to introduce a more tenable social contract with the populace.
—Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Even so, their choice may not be tenable for much longer.
—Allison Schrager, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenable
Adjective
-
The safe, defendable choice wasn’t necessarily the right one though.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One can also expect changes on the blue line, with mainstays Luke Mittelstadt and Cal Thomas graduating, and justifiable concerns about a porous back end that was clearly a weak spot last season.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Although its military occupation by Indian troops in December 1961 raised a furor in many Western countries, in the hindsight of history, Nehru’s action is justifiable.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Such endurance is central to the aircraft’s role in long-range deterrence operations and potential missions in heavily defended regions.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Private firefighting outfits defended companies, utilities, and ultrarich enclaves while other parts of the city burned.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Cross-border enforceability must be defensible under scrutiny.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Ideas move quickly, but within boundaries that feel measurable and defensible.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Leon’s invention secured interest from Gaston himself, who came to see him in Venezuela in 1987.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In 2025 district attorneys filed charges in four cases referred to their offices and secured convictions in three.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If your income comes primarily from protected sources like Social Security or disability benefits, a court judgment may pose little immediate threat.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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The Surgeon General's office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are banned for 10 years from wielding legal, regulatory or economic pressure to persuade the platforms to remove protected speech.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
If the umbrella flips or begins to blow with the wind, a grip will provide a secure hold that allows the user to operate the item with ease.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The new space will house offices for the first lady, kitchen space, a double-decker colonnade and upgrades to a secure underground military complex.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenable. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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