May we count your visit with Google Analytics? It uses cookies and sends visit data to Google. You can change this any time under Cookie choices. Privacy

 Browse the A to Z list

Tenable

adj. thoughtful, capable formal

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.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
professional
formal
literary

  • everyday

    plausible

    Fits when a claim appears reasonably possible

    Careful Plausibility is only initial credibility and does not show the claim can survive close examination.

  • everyday

    reasonable

    Fits when ordinary judgment finds a position fair or sensible

    Careful Reasonable is broader and less demanding than an argument that withstands challenge.

  • professional

    defensible

    Fits when evidence or principle can answer objections

    Careful Defensible may mean merely protected from criticism, while tenable also asks whether a position can be maintained.

  • professional

    sound

    Fits when reasoning or construction has no important weakness

    Careful Sound is stronger than tenable, which can mean only that defense remains possible.

  • professional

    sustainable

    Fits when an arrangement can continue over time

    Careful Sustainable concerns endurance and may say nothing about logical justification.

  • professional

    viable

    Fits when a plan can work in practice

    Careful A viable plan may still rest on an argument that is hard to defend.

  • formal

    credible

    Fits when the source or explanation merits belief

    Careful Credible does not necessarily mean logically complete or maintainable.

  • literary

    arguable

    Fits when a position has enough support to deserve debate

    Careful Arguable is weaker and can imply that serious doubts remain.

Opposites 3

  • untenable
  • indefensible
  • implausible

Common phrases 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.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated