as in misleading
formal
not capable of being defended against attack or criticism; not tenable
an untenable argument The theory is untenable.
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Recent Examples of untenable
From a business standpoint, keeping Attia at CBS was untenable.
—
Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Some believe the current setup is untenable.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
And keep in mind rent-to-own is normally a path a seller takes only once all others have become untenable.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026
As previously reported by Rolling Stone, Wasserman had found himself in an untenable situation internally in recent months.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for untenable
Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Some believe the current setup is untenable.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
And keep in mind rent-to-own is normally a path a seller takes only once all others have become untenable.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026
As previously reported by Rolling Stone, Wasserman had found himself in an untenable situation internally in recent months.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for untenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untenable
Adjective
-
But without context, that figure is deeply misleading.—
Robert Pearl,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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Staff member Brandon Richards, who made $136,000 last year, is tasked with quickly dispatching responses to information the governor’s team deems inaccurate or misleading that is spread on social media and in the media.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The United States is, to her knowledge, the only country maintaining such a ban for nearly a century via Section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act—even in its weaker form with the domestic consumption loophole.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Mar. 2026
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Lessons from gold and small-caps The recent spike in oil prices has not resulted in spectacular gains for gold investors fueled by a weaker dollar, as was the case in 1973.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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So was Odysseus’s response considered irrational and over-the-top to ancient Greeks?—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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Those models lack sound scientific basis and produce irrational results, such as requiring that nuclear plants protect against radiation below naturally occurring levels.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Because college football players can’t unionize and bargain rules, anti-tampering and other prohibitions aren’t exempt from antitrust scrutiny and can be challenged as unreasonable restraints on trade and price-fixing schemes.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Attorneys general for 16 Democratic states argue the policy jeopardizes student privacy and forces schools to meet an unreasonable deadline.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Untenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untenable. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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