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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tenable
While there have long been rumblings that Casey DeSantis would one day run for office, the prospect of that happening became more tenable during a Palm Beach County donor event last week where the plan was discussed as a possible reality in 2026, NBC News reported.
—
Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
In order to change the status quo and make Housing First a more tenable system in the city, the officials argued legislative changes would be required on state and federal levels to ease restrictions around the low-income housing tax credit and other funding streams.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2025
And all this criticism without any sense of whether the ceasefire was really meant to be tenable for long.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
The status quo — an impasse where TikTok operates as normal with the seemingly empty threat of a ban hanging over its head — won’t be tenable for much longer.
—Vox Staff, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenable
Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
In order to change the status quo and make Housing First a more tenable system in the city, the officials argued legislative changes would be required on state and federal levels to ease restrictions around the low-income housing tax credit and other funding streams.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2025
And all this criticism without any sense of whether the ceasefire was really meant to be tenable for long.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
The status quo — an impasse where TikTok operates as normal with the seemingly empty threat of a ban hanging over its head — won’t be tenable for much longer.
—Vox Staff, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenable
Adjective
-
In hindsight, his decision to betray his budding mentee, Han, was perfectly justifiable.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Although the initial school closures may have been justifiable (even if off-script in many locations), there was no plan on when and how to reopen.—
David Zweig,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The most defensible positions will center on traits AI struggles to replicate: genuine empathy, creative vision, relationship-building, and ethical decision-making.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Intuitions, with shape-shifting qualities akin to those of paranoias or fantasies, are not always defensible, rarely unassailable.—
Yiyun Li,
The New Yorker,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Industry insiders attribute their rapid rise in part to innovation-friendly rules that allowed tech startups to apply for — and secure — licenses to offer banking and electronic money services with greater ease.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
30 Apr. 2025
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenable. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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