Synonyms of tenuous

tenuous

adjective

as in fragile

lacking strength, permanence, or resilience

The countries formed a tenuous political alliance.

The moon has a tenuous atmosphere that frequently fluctuates in thickness.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fragile
• slight
• delicate
• shaky
• flimsy
• weak
• insubstantial
• unsubstantial
• frail
• fine
• breakable
• uncertain
• problematical
• dubious
• soft
• feeble
• problematic
• questionable
• frangible
• doubtful
• suspicious
• eggshell
• dainty
• suspect
• gossamer
• shady
• dodgy
• dubitable
• doubtable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• substantial
• solid
• hard
• rigid
• unyielding
• firm
• elastic
• flexible
• resilient
• strong
• stretch
• rubbery
• springy
• supple
• tough
• sturdy
• unbreakable
• rubberlike
• stretchable
• infrangible
• nonbreakable

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

Recent Examples of tenuous

The tenuous nature of the lines of communication from the northern elements of the salient back into Ukraine is probably seeing a lot of contingency planning and war gaming in case the Ukrainians need to conduct a withdrawal, Ryan added. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025

The first day of Ramadan fell during a tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. —Eric Nagourney, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025

Impacts from compounding inflation, higher interest rates and concerns about general social, cultural, and geopolitical climate are causing a general sense of tenuous, long-term financial stability and susceptibility to upheaval from wide-ranging social and political actions. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025

The Israelis declared war and have killed more than 48,000 Gazans, according to officials there, but a tenuous ceasefire agreement was reached in January 2025. —Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 20 Mar. 2025