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
Some will also credibly ask whether India’s democratic backsliding would make such an alliance untenable.
—
Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
Althea Gibson, one of the great tennis players of the twentieth century, made segregation in her sport untenable.
—Sasha Abramsky, The New York Review of Books, 4 Sep. 2025
During peak times, trades can take minutes and cost more than $30, which is untenable for both retail users and professional traders.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Daskalakis described the situation as untenable.
—Mike Stobbe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for untenable
Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
Althea Gibson, one of the great tennis players of the twentieth century, made segregation in her sport untenable.
—Sasha Abramsky, The New York Review of Books, 4 Sep. 2025
During peak times, trades can take minutes and cost more than $30, which is untenable for both retail users and professional traders.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Daskalakis described the situation as untenable.
—Mike Stobbe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for untenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untenable
Adjective
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Trump has initiated a flurry of defamation lawsuits against media companies, accusing them of false or misleading coverage.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Hinton challenged the optimistic visions promoted by Silicon Valley leaders, suggesting that much of the upbeat narrative about AI’s societal benefits is, at best, misleading.—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The ultrarich formula uses amino acids to reinforce weak strands, glycerin to hydrate and soften, silicones to smooth the cuticle, and coconut oil to add more moisture and shine.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Losing Fed independence is like giving free rein to emotional, irrational decision making.—
Hersh Shefrin,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Maura’s performance makes Maria Angeles so magnetic and eccentric — earthily practical on some matters, dizzily irrational on others, and sympathetically true to herself on all fronts — that all the film’s other players want for detail and texture by comparison.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Russia is trying to paint Ukraine as the unreasonable party in negotiations, Ferris said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Darryl Morin, national president of Forward Latino, a Latino advocacy group based in Franklin, Wisconsin, said the decision erodes Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Untenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untenable. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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