Tenable
adj.thoughtful, capableformal
What it means
Able to be defended with reasons or maintained under actual conditions.
Reach for it when describing a claim, position, or arrangement that can survive scrutiny
The explanation became tenable only after the team accounted for the missing readings.
Choose between these
8- everyday
plausible
when a claim appears reasonably possible
not when Plausibility is only initial credibility and does not show the claim can survive close examination.
- everyday
when ordinary judgment finds a position fair or sensible
not when Reasonable is broader and less demanding than an argument that withstands challenge.
- professional
when evidence or principle can answer objections
not when Defensible may mean merely protected from criticism, while tenable also asks whether a position can be maintained.
- professional
sound
when reasoning or construction has no important weakness
not when Sound is stronger than tenable, which can mean only that defense remains possible.
- professional
when an arrangement can continue over time
not when Sustainable concerns endurance and may say nothing about logical justification.
- professional
when a plan can work in practice
not when A viable plan may still rest on an argument that is hard to defend.
- formal
when the source or explanation merits belief
not when Credible does not necessarily mean logically complete or maintainable.
- literary
arguable
when a position has enough support to deserve debate
not when Arguable is weaker and can imply that serious doubts remain.
Said against
3- untenable
- indefensible
- implausible
It naturally appears in
3- tenable position
A tenable position must explain the evidence that appears to contradict it.
- remain tenable
The schedule could remain tenable only if the second supplier delivered on time.
- no longer tenable
The original estimate was no longer tenable after the survey revealed unstable soil.