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 The one thing that is true in this executive order is that as a nation, our energy policy is moving the country in an unsustainable and tenuous direction, but not because of renewables or the actions of the last administration. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 In contrast to Hurley’s increasingly tenuous status, Smith’s seat is clearly cooling. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025 Spain’s budding star system is admittedly a tenuous structure requiring that demand from streaming platforms remains high and that the government continues to invest in both the creation and promotion of Spanish cinema, as well as the marketing of Spain as a location for international shoots. Jennifer Green, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025 What makes tarot so beguiling – and so relevant in the present – is the tenuous connection of the future to the past. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tenuous

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Cite this Entry

“Tenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenuous. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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