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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tenable
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
There is no tenable middle ground here.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
There is no tenable middle ground here.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenable
Adjective
-
In turn, Podziemski’s game morphed from something young, fresh, and exciting into a stale loaf of bread, drawing the justifiable ire of Warriors fans everywhere.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
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My position is that those strikes in 2025 were not legally justifiable and also that strikes now would likewise not be justifiable.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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It is designed with advanced stealth features to reduce its radar signature and improve survivability in heavily defended airspace.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
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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
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This is precisely why brand differentiation and sustainability matter more than ever, with trust and strategic positioning standing out as truly defensible assets.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
24 Feb. 2026
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The city should work with land managers — including the state and county — on measures such as cutting gaps in vegetation for firefighter access, maintaining defensible space around community infrastructure and restoring native vegetation, the report said.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Common examples of secured loans are auto loans and mortgages, wherein the property the funds are used to buy — meaning, the vehicle and the home, in these cases — is used as collateral.—
Becca Stanek,
TheWeek,
20 Feb. 2026
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After recovering from a crash in rough conditions, Austria’s Stefan Rettenegger and Johannes Lamparter secured bronze.—
Rebecca Tauber,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In addition to the anxiety over Monday's ruling, Petit said, Haitians under protected status were living amid an uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in areas with large Haitian communities in South Florida.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
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Isabella Rodriguez, Florida elections director at Citizens Defending Freedom, said religion is also a protected class.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
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Although the startup is separate from his dissertation research, the company reflects his broader interest in building secure systems that work in real-world conditions.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenable. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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