Synonyms of tenuous

tenuous

adjective

as in fragile

lacking strength, permanence, or resilience

The countries formed a tenuous political alliance.

The moon has a tenuous atmosphere that frequently fluctuates in thickness.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fragile
• slight
• delicate
• shaky
• flimsy
• weak
• insubstantial
• unsubstantial
• frail
• fine
• breakable
• uncertain
• problematical
• dubious
• soft
• feeble
• problematic
• questionable
• frangible
• doubtful
• suspicious
• eggshell
• dainty
• suspect
• gossamer
• shady
• dodgy
• dubitable
• doubtable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• substantial
• solid
• hard
• rigid
• unyielding
• firm
• elastic
• flexible
• resilient
• strong
• stretch
• rubbery
• springy
• supple
• tough
• sturdy
• unbreakable
• rubberlike
• stretchable
• infrangible
• nonbreakable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective tenuous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tenuous are slender, slight, slim, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

Where would slender be a reasonable alternative to tenuous?

The meanings of slender and tenuous largely overlap; however, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When could slight be used to replace tenuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to tenuous, slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When is slim a more appropriate choice than tenuous?

The synonyms slim and tenuous are sometimes interchangeable, but slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry

a slim chance

In what contexts can thin take the place of tenuous?

The words thin and tenuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, thin implies comparatively little extension between surfaces or in diameter, or it may imply lack of substance, richness, or abundance.

thin wire

a thin soup

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tenuous

Many police chiefs have opted to risk the ire of the federal government in an attempt to preserve trust with immigrant communities – a bond that can be tenuous even in the best of times. —Meg Anderson, NPR, 30 Mar. 2025

After much argument, the groups, though still fuming, come to a tenuous ceasefire. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025

In other cases, the relationship is a little more tenuous, but there’s something to it. —Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025

Some chipmakers are already feeling the pain of Trump's trade war, despite a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs and a tenuous exception for semiconductors and other electronics. —ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2025