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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tenable
That position may not be tenable after Friday.
—
Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 1 Aug. 2025
With India’s economy punching below its weight, however, Modi’s inner circle realizes the status quo is no longer tenable.
—Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2025
Taking what might feel like a gap year might not be tenable for all kinds of reasons.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Figuring out a tenable future with Hendrickson’s contract is part of this, too.
—Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenable
Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 1 Aug. 2025
With India’s economy punching below its weight, however, Modi’s inner circle realizes the status quo is no longer tenable.
—Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2025
Taking what might feel like a gap year might not be tenable for all kinds of reasons.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Figuring out a tenable future with Hendrickson’s contract is part of this, too.
—Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenable
Adjective
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Security, errors, and trust dominate the risk analysis Despite the hype and muddled terminology, the core idea of AI agents—systems designed to autonomously take action to carry out specific tasks—is still generating a lot of justifiable excitement.—
Sage Lazzaro,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
As an epic celebration of imperialism, colonialization, and warfare, the Aeneid is often viewed with justifiable wariness by twenty-first-century readers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In 11 games for Wisconsin, Lucas recorded 18 tackles, one interception and three defended passes.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Firms with defensible Level 2 self-assessments and complete, current artifacts will move faster on awards where third-party certification is not yet required.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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The United States is a sovereign nation with defensible borders—a homeland that protects our national interests, defends our distinctly American people, and promotes lasting peace and prosperity.—
Riley Moore,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Expending taxpayer funds on a capital project without secured or approved funding is both fiscally irresponsible and a violation of sound budgeting practices.—
Penny Weaver,
Arkansas Online,
8 Sep. 2025
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With more than $100 million in secured backlog, INCORAGE continues to prove that principled execution can drive both reliability and growth.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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After walking away from the semi-protected working environment of Anderson’s film, Hoffman followed the advice of some peers and enrolled in an acting school in New York to hone his craft.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
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The study underscores the threat extreme heat poses to birds in tropical regions and helps explain why birds are dying even in remote and protected areas, typically considered havens of biodiversity.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Be proactive in keeping your travel gear safe and secure.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenable. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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