tenuous
Americanadjective
-
lacking a sound basis, as reasoning; unsubstantiated; weak.
a tenuous argument.
-
of slight importance or significance.
He holds a rather tenuous position in history.
- Synonyms:
- trifling, trivial, insignificant
- Antonyms:
- substantial, important
-
lacking in clarity; vague.
He gave a rather tenuous account of his past life.
-
thin or slender in form, as a thread.
- Synonyms:
- attenuated
- Antonyms:
- thick
-
thin in consistency; rare or rarefied.
adjective
-
insignificant or flimsy
a tenuous argument
-
slim, fine, or delicate
a tenuous thread
-
diluted or rarefied in consistency or density
a tenuous fluid
Other Word Forms
- tenuity noun
- tenuously adverb
- tenuousness noun
- untenuous adjective
- untenuously adverb
- untenuousness noun
Etymology
Origin of tenuous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He’s retired, and the rotation is as tenuous as ever.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026
It comes at a tenuous time for the market.
From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026
“It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have it. It just means that’s more tenuous … but I do think that we should say it’s wrong and that it’s damaging.”
From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026
In a market where sometimes tenuous links spell big moves for stocks, the Super Bowl halftime performance from Bad Bunny failed to produce coattails.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 9, 2026
Supposedly they were sworn to the Arcyns of the Vale, but the Eyrie’s grasp upon the islands was tenuous at best.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
