tenable

adjective

ˈte-nə-bəl How to pronounce tenable (audio)
Definition of tenablenext
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

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
  1. defendable
  2. justifiable
  3. defended
  4. defensible
  5. secured
  6. protected
  7. secure
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
  • Deleting material without a defensible basis can conflict with legal or business obligations.
    — Soniya Bopache, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Convenience is the clearest and most defensible benefit, since pouches require no brewing or drink to carry and can be used almost anywhere.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of defensible
Adjective
  • Best Egg allows secured loans using the fixtures in your home as collateral, including cabinetry, light fixtures and HVAC systems.
    — Dan Avery,Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The investment strategy spans senior secured debt, gap financing and equity investments, with plans to invest in up to 30 features.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Nov. 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
  • Future developments in this field are likely to place greater emphasis on interoperability, autonomous coordination, secure communications and the ability to operate multiple unmanned platforms within a common operational framework.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
  • While security software cannot stop every scam, combining it with secure payment methods, account alerts and careful shopping habits can help protect your money and personal information throughout the holiday season.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of secure

Browse Nearby Words

ten
tenable
tenacious
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Cite this Entry

“Tenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenable. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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