tenuous

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective tenuous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of tenuous are slender, slight, slim, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

Where would slender be a reasonable alternative to tenuous?

The meanings of slender and tenuous largely overlap; however, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When could slight be used to replace tenuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to tenuous, slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When is slim a more appropriate choice than tenuous?

The synonyms slim and tenuous are sometimes interchangeable, but slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance

In what contexts can thin take the place of tenuous?

The words thin and tenuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, thin implies comparatively little extension between surfaces or in diameter, or it may imply lack of substance, richness, or abundance.

thin wire
a thin soup

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tenuous But experts on government contracting told me the company’s maneuvers were legally tenuous. Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 5 Apr. 2025 But these protections are tenuous, especially in rural parts of America, studies have shown. Ilana Panich-Linsman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025 Even before these 2025 cuts, health care in Afghanistan has always been tenuous, especially for women. Khwaga Ghani, NPR, 31 Mar. 2025 However, legal analysts believe even this would be constitutionally tenuous and would likely be blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tenuous

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenuous. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on tenuous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!