1
as in defendable
capable of being defended against physical attack
the soldiers' encampment on the open plain was not tenable, so they retreated to higher ground
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justifiable
capable of being defended with good reasoning against verbal attack
the tenable theory that a giant meteor strike set off a chain of events resulting in the demise of the dinosaurs
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Recent Examples of tenable
After Thursday’s debate and the subsequent splurge of reporting about the conditions that obtain in the White House, that’s no longer tenable. ...
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Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 2 July 2024
Some of this may have been prompted by the First and Second World Wars, which resulted in such multitudes of dead—men whose bodies were often unrecoverable—that the old rituals were no longer tenable.
—Cody Delistraty, The New Yorker, 22 June 2024
But as the virus continues to spread among livestock animals such as cows, relying on mass culling may not be as tenable.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 14 May 2024
Moscow is now a pariah, and business as usual with Beijing is no longer tenable.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 6 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for tenable 
Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 2 July 2024
Some of this may have been prompted by the First and Second World Wars, which resulted in such multitudes of dead—men whose bodies were often unrecoverable—that the old rituals were no longer tenable.
—Cody Delistraty, The New Yorker, 22 June 2024
But as the virus continues to spread among livestock animals such as cows, relying on mass culling may not be as tenable.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 14 May 2024
Moscow is now a pariah, and business as usual with Beijing is no longer tenable.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 6 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for tenable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenable
Adjective
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Others may instead look at it as the pilots having a very justifiable reason to distrust airline management, having lost years’ of gains in the past when contracts were ripped up during airline bankruptcies.Brian Foley, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
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Historically, many Americans have viewed the laws as justifiable.Kristina M. Lee, The Conversation, 18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The Saratoga Fire District and County Fire remind us all to clear brush for a defensible space around our homes.Debby Rice, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
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Invest in Fire-Resistant Landscaping: If your property is at risk for wildfires, consider fire-resistant landscaping—using plants with high moisture content and creating defensible space around your home.Monica Sanders, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The relaxed fit is perfect for people who don’t want to be restricted in trail leggings but still want a lightweight item with secure zips, multiple pockets, and even a lower-leg zip for easy on/off boot action.Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
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Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón is the only Best European Actress 2024 nominee who has consistently been in the Oscar conversation, so her Best Actress campaign remains secure.Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near tenable
Cite this Entry
“Tenable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenable. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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