tenable

[ten-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. capable of being held, maintained, or defended, as against attack or dispute.

   a tenable theory.

   Synonyms: warrantable, maintainable, viable, workable

2. capable of being occupied, possessed, held, or enjoyed, as under certain conditions.

   a research grant tenable for two years.

tenable

/ ˈtɛnəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be upheld, believed, maintained, or defended

Other Word Forms

• tenability noun
• tenableness noun
• tenably adverb
• nontenability noun
• nontenable adjective
• nontenableness noun
• nontenably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenable¹

1570–80; < French: that can be held, equivalent to ten ( ir ) to hold (≪ Latin tenēre ) + -able -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenable¹

C16: from Old French, from tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre

Example Sentences

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

Canada had long been committed to a two-state solution as part of a negotiated peace process, Carney said, but he added that "this approach is no longer tenable".

From BBC

The first minister was asked if she thought the chancellor's position was tenable and whether she should remain in post.

From BBC

For a while, it was a tenable situation.

From Los Angeles Times

Donaldson favors, as I do, killing the current dinner and instituting something more tenable, but less Hollywood in nature.

From Salon

Related Words

• arguable 
• defensible 
• justifiable 
• plausible 
• rational