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 Tolerating that gap was tenable when agents were autocompleting functions. — Janakiram Msv, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026 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 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

According to experts, charities generally are not allowed to accept gifts with specific conditions, unless there is a justifiable reason.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The violence against law enforcement and serious damage to the city are not justifiable.

— Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of justifiable

Adjective

The defense has saved the Falcons, with a defended pass that prevented a touchdown, along with Jessie Bates III's forced fumble on what would have been a touchdown.

— AJC.com, AJC.com, 1 Nov. 2026
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

Definition of defended

Adjective

Managers must also honor that autonomy when employees reach defensible conclusions different from their own.

— Andre Shojaie, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026
For reasons ranging from understandable financial and logistical challenges to less defensible neglect, property owners have allowed some of these sheds to serve as a permanent substitute for addressing unsafe building façades.

— Ahmed Tigani, New York Daily News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of defensible

Adjective

An 8-year-old Haitian boy who lost protected status this year was placed in federal custody after an immigration check-in last week in San Diego, according to federal and school district officials.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Another may undergo a procedure designed to preserve stability, minimize unnecessary tissue trauma, and permit early protected walking.

— Richard Moy, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of protected

Adjective

If the proposition had passed, almost all of the billions in proceeds would have gone to cover healthcare and, by extension, to the union members in the form of more secure jobs and living wages.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
The system aims to turn one of nature’s hardest gems into a reliable building block for next-generation quantum computers, ultra-secure communication links, and high-sensitivity quantum sensors.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 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 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of tenable

adjective

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