untenable

[uhn-ten-uh-buh l]

See more synonyms for untenable on Thesaurus.com

adjective

incapable of being defended, as an argument, thesis, etc.; indefensible.
not fit to be occupied, as an apartment, house, etc.

Origin of untenable

First recorded in 1640–50; un-¹ + tenable

Related formsun·ten·a·bil·i·ty, un·ten·a·ble·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for untenable on Thesaurus.com

1. baseless, groundless, unsound, weak, questionable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for untenable

Contemporary Examples

Does this hunk of glass make up for his untenable relationships?
And The Escort of The Year Is… Backstage at The Sex Oscars
Scott Bixby
March 24, 2014
What exists now is unworkable, untenable, and damn near unendurable.
Memo to the South: Go Ahead, Secede Already!
Lee Siegel
April 30, 2013
Some calculating pol, realizing that his position had become unpopular or untenable, would execute a backflip off the high board.
The New Era of Evolution Helps Pols Switch Stance on Issues from Gay Marriage to Immigration
Howard Kurtz
April 3, 2013
The idea of suffering this nausea another day, let alone another 34 weeks, was untenable.
Prue Clarke on Her Battles With Kate Middleton’s Illness, Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Prue Clarke
December 5, 2012
The war between Israel and Hamas shows that the situation on the ground is fundamentally unstable and untenable.
The Death of Israel's "Quality Minority"
Hussein Ibish
November 30, 2012

Historical Examples

Calendar surrendered an untenable position as gracefully as could be wished.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
Without it, Pete's claim would be so vague as to be untenable.
The Best Made Plans
Everett B. Cole
Have the distressed defenders of this untenable Citadel any such?
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, March 18, 1893
Various
The thought that He suffered through fear of death is untenable.
Jesus the Christ
James Edward Talmage
But he dismissed the notion as untenable and absurd on second thoughts.
The Wild Man of the West
R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for untenable

untenable

adjective

(of theories, propositions, etc) incapable of being maintained, defended, or vindicated
unable to be maintained against attack
rare (of a house, etc) unfit for occupation

Derived Formsuntenability or untenableness, noununtenably, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for untenable

adj.

1640s, "incapable of being held against attack," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of tenable. Figurative sense is recorded from 1690s.

untenable

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}untenable

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for untenable

Contemporary Examples

Does this hunk of glass make up for his untenable relationships?

What exists now is unworkable, untenable, and damn near unendurable.

Some calculating pol, realizing that his position had become unpopular or untenable, would execute a backflip off the high board.

The idea of suffering this nausea another day, let alone another 34 weeks, was untenable.

The war between Israel and Hamas shows that the situation on the ground is fundamentally unstable and untenable.

Historical Examples

Calendar surrendered an untenable position as gracefully as could be wished.

Without it, Pete's claim would be so vague as to be untenable.

Have the distressed defenders of this untenable Citadel any such?

The thought that He suffered through fear of death is untenable.

But he dismissed the notion as untenable and absurd on second thoughts.

untenable

Word Origin and History for untenable

adj.

Origin of untenable