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
This is revealed as Ali, in the present day, is trying to help Rue navigate her truly untenable position at the center of rival drug lords.
—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
The Ugly The traffic situation was untenable and must be fixed.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
That’s something Apple is unlikely to ever get behind, and something that, as your child gets older, becomes increasingly untenable for a whole host of reasons.
—
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy,
The Verge,
8 June 2026
If extreme heat makes a trip untenable, there are ways to recoup costs.
—
ABC News,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for untenable
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
The Ugly The traffic situation was untenable and must be fixed.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
That’s something Apple is unlikely to ever get behind, and something that, as your child gets older, becomes increasingly untenable for a whole host of reasons.
—
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy,
The Verge,
8 June 2026
If extreme heat makes a trip untenable, there are ways to recoup costs.
—
ABC News,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for untenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untenable
Adjective
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This headline is so misleading.
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Pretending that’s not going to happen is misleading and wrong.
Adjective
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Depressed wages, a weak currency and hyperinflation have continued to make life difficult for ordinary Venezuelans, many of whom struggle to afford basic goods.
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There, the Sox scored on a weak, off-line throw from shallow left fielder José Caballero.
Adjective
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Economist Hyman Minsky spent his career explaining how irrational behavior produces fragility and instability in capitalist systems.
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McClanahan has been close enough to his usual production, but without an irrational need for perfection.
Adjective
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Those fears are not unreasonable, either, given the ability of AI to do so many things so well.
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Horn’s assessment wasn’t unreasonable; it was based on recent statements by Greenlandic politicians.
Cite this Entry
“Untenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untenable. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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