tenable
Americanadjective
-
capable of being held, maintained, or defended, as against attack or dispute.
a tenable theory.
- Synonyms:
- warrantable, maintainable, viable, workable
-
capable of being occupied, possessed, held, or enjoyed, as under certain conditions.
a research grant tenable for two years.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nontenability noun
- nontenable adjective
- nontenableness noun
- nontenably adverb
- tenability noun
- tenableness noun
- tenably adverb
Etymology
Origin of tenable
1570–80; < French: that can be held, equivalent to ten ( ir ) to hold (≪ Latin tenēre ) + -able -able
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.
Duncan-Glancy said she accepted that it was no longer tenable for her to continue in her current post.
From BBC
Marine crews are working to cool the outside of the ship to make conditions on the boat more tenable for firefighting crews.
From Los Angeles Times
Solis said they don’t believe that appointing attorneys without compensation would be “legal, ethical or even tenable or desirable.”
From Los Angeles Times
It no longer seemed tenable that Andrew should have the honour of being a prince and living in some splendour among the royals in Windsor.
From BBC
In other words when he sees the adviser's report, it is on that basis that he will have to decide if it is tenable to keep Rayner on.
From BBC
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.
