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.

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
reasonable
when ordinary judgment finds a position fair or sensible
not when Reasonable is broader and less demanding than an argument that withstands challenge.
professional
defensible
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
sustainable
when an arrangement can continue over time
not when Sustainable concerns endurance and may say nothing about logical justification.
professional
viable
when a plan can work in practice
not when A viable plan may still rest on an argument that is hard to defend.
formal
credible
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.

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.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.