tenuous

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

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 tenuous However, Valadao has a strong local following, and this new seat would be the most politically tenuous among those Democrats are aiming to flip. David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025 But the economics of indie were always tenuous. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025 If DeBoer's second Crimson Tide team misses the CFP, his time in Tuscaloosa could quickly become tenuous. Andrew Hughes, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025 Schafer envisions a future in which swarms of these structures are used for atmospheric sensing and telecommunications not only in Earth’s mesosphere but also in the tenuous atmosphere of Mars, which exhibits similarly low pressures. Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tenuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenuous
Adjective
  • The institutions of the new democracy were fragile, and the military still wielded enough influence to block meaningful accountability.
    Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The gown has since become too fragile to showcase and doesn’t leave the museum.
    Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The night’s slight chill is perfect for a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon by an indoor fireplace or outdoor firepit.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Julie McNamara is back developing series for CBS Studios — with one slight difference.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenuous. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on tenuous

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