TENUOUS Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

tenuous

adjective

Definition of tenuous next

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tenuous And the Scandinavian connection is tenuous at best, food historians said. —

Amelia Nierenberg, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025 And that’s without getting into how the prospective policies of the incoming Trump administration, which might affect an already tenuous economy and slowly recovering art market. —

The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 2 Jan. 2025 The brand's connection to Napoleon Bonaparte, although the link is somewhat tenuous and predates the firm's founding, adds a fascinating layer to its history. —

Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 Chrystia Freeland, the nation's finance minister who had been preparing the nation's Trump trade response, quit abruptly, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's political standing is tenuous. —

Axios, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for tenuous