TENABLE Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

tenable

adjective

ˈte-nə-bəl

Definition of tenable

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tenable But having said that, there is also a tenable argument against the team handing him a handsome pay raise. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026 Nicks has said that isn’t tenable without Christine McVie, but the band toured heavily without her between 2003 and 2014. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2026 How tenable will an all-righty bench be over the medium to long term? — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 But the more tenable tea on the name involves eighteenth-century trading ships of the British Empire. — Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tenable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenable

Adjective

For months the university has been briefing journalists that its appointment system is rigorous and defendable, and that the campaign was targeted against a Black academic because of his race.

— Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Even if maritime regulators demanded shippers purchase more defendable vessels, the crews aboard are unready for the challenge.

— Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of defendable

Adjective

The most justifiable criticism against the DC detective series is that its mysteries play out wordily, without letting the audience in on how its space cops come to major conclusions.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Appalled by the failure to answer many questions, Democrats responded with what was often, though not always, justifiable outrage.

— David Wippman, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of justifiable

Adjective

The idea is to give aircraft another long-range weapon for attacking high-value or time-sensitive targets while keeping those aircraft farther from heavily defended areas.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
The city is part of Ukraine’s Fortress Belt, a series of heavily defended cities that Russia must overcome to advance farther into the region.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of defended

Adjective

For years, Napa County homeowner Phil Burton put off creating defensible space around his Pope Valley property.

— Kenny Choi, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
At the foundation of workforce changes related to AI is the idea integrating and deploying this technology has to be purposeful in order to be defensible to a company, explained Shelagh Glaser, chief financial officer of Synopsys.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of defensible

Adjective

After New Deal policies of the 1930s and 40s secured workers’ legal rights, union membership soared.

— Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
The crash site remained secured Wednesday as investigators worked to piece together the circumstances surrounding the deadly flight.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of secured

Adjective

Eco effort Because Kanai is a protected area, eco efforts are top of mind.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
The result is a more efficient propulsion system that delivers greater range and energy, enabling engagement of highly maneuverable aerial threats at safer distances from protected forces.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of protected

Adjective

When prescription treatment is appropriate, the clinician determines the treatment plan and formula, with the patient receiving ongoing access to their provider through secure messaging and the ability to adjust treatment as their skin evolves.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
The order created a cybersecurity clearinghouse inside the US Treasury Department to review security flaws that AI systems are supposed to self-discover in a secure sandbox.

— John Caruso, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of secure

Browse Nearby Words

ten

tenable

tenacious

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“Tenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenable. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tenable

adjective

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