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 tax revolt was a successful attempt by a small group of ideologues to capitalize on people’s justifiable anger at the cost-of-living crisis that followed the war in Vietnam, along with California’s runaway home prices.

— Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
The valuation of Fernandez is entirely justifiable within the context of the huge fees paid by several Premier League clubs, and specifically City, for high-level central midfielders this summer.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifiable

Adjective

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
That additional space supports higher burnout velocity and helps expand the interceptor’s defended area.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of defended

Adjective

The public deserves to know which of his points were defensible and which were deceiving.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
While voters’ choices have been, more often than not, defensible, the unanimity betrays a lack of imagination and drains any hint of drama from the ceremony.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of defensible

Adjective

China secured supply chain dominance and established rubidium as a strategic resource by extracting high-value elements from its lithium waste.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
Certain secured cards automatically deduct your monthly payment from the deposit account.

— Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of secured

Adjective

States United bills itself as a nonpartisan group dedicated to the rule of law and free, fair, secure elections.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
For now, the European truck market is relatively secure, but the broader European automotive market is being buffeted by Chinese competition.

— Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of secure

Browse Nearby Words

ten

tenable

tenacious

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Style

“Tenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenable. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tenable

adjective

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