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.

Related Words

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

Dissimilar Words

• 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

The concept has overwhelmingly blurred the lines between professional and personal hours for physicians, overburdening an already tenuous workforce. — Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

But years into a war that has left Russians excluded from the world and saddled with broken promises from the government, official readings of economic pessimism have recently hit record highs, threatening the Kremlin’s tenuous hold on its society. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 30 June 2026

Smith’s stupendous catch started an inning-ending double play Wednesday in Toronto helped preserve a tenuous two-run lead and secure that series win. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026

Anyway, things continue to be tenuous at The Bear, as Sydney, Richie, Natalie and Carmy are forced to adjust to their new status quo, with a wholly undefined new power structure. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026

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