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
In many ways, AAA game development is no different than Hollywood, with production cycles and budgets growing untenable (hello, GTA VI).
—
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Meanwhile, the uninterrupted college football calendar has become increasingly untenable.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
These contradictions place many American Jews in an untenable position.
—Michael W. Sonnenfeldt, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
The actors’ muted facial responses reflect the inner struggles in untenable circumstances of these young lives.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for untenable
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Meanwhile, the uninterrupted college football calendar has become increasingly untenable.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
These contradictions place many American Jews in an untenable position.
—Michael W. Sonnenfeldt, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
The actors’ muted facial responses reflect the inner struggles in untenable circumstances of these young lives.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for untenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untenable
Adjective
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In the case that led to the large sanction, Quinn Emanuel’s client Natera needed to show that science backed up the advertising statements its rival Guardant alleged were false and misleading, Chen noted in his order.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
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Job descriptions are too rigid and titles are often misleading and neither tends to truly capture what people actually do.—
Keith Ferrazzi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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As the story goes, attendance was weak, the weather was bad, and the tournament experience was just lacking.—
James Burky,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
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As many as 40 states combine one-party control with institutional barriers weak enough to fall to political pressure.—
Bruce Sibley,
Time,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Carpenter says the disturbing encounters left her fearful for her safety and that of relatives living with her, as police label the suspect’s fixation irrational and increasingly dangerous.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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Great startups often look irrational at first.—
Anna Demeo,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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However, investing in public institutions and infrastructure is a costly endeavor that can seem unreasonable when local officials are struggling to balance budgets without increasing tax burdens.—
Aneri Pattani,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
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Nineteen recent clinical trials on kratom leaf document no evidence of severe addiction or significant or unreasonable adverse effects.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Untenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untenable. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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